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(Washington D.C.)– Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Mental Health Caucus, yesterday introduced H. Con. Res. 130, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Mental Health Month and was joined by Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) as an original co-sponsor.
“Now more than ever, mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others must be pulled to the forefront, since approximately 57 million Americans are affected by mental illnesses that are diagnosable and treatable making it very appropriate to observe a Mental Health Month,” noted Congresswoman Napolitano.
“Recent tragedies only underscore our continued neglect in recognizing how critical mental health services are and we must do more to remove their stigma,” Napolitano added. “America’s health practitioners and mental health organizations should use this opportunity during May to promote information to not only reduce and eliminate the stigma of treatment, but also focus on mental wellbeing awareness, ensure access to appropriate services, and support an improved quality of life for those living with mental illness.”
The resolution includes several stunning facts that have become prominently researched by the scientific and medical communities:
- Nearly 1 in 4 American adults suffer from mental disorders or illnesses.
- America’s employers lose $150 billion annually in lost business productivity due to mental illnesses affecting their workforce.
- Nearly one third (31 percent) of veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2005 were diagnosed with mental health or psychosocial ills needing treatment.
- Two thirds of young people with mental health disorders are not aware of services available to them, reflecting the exceedingly distressing massacre at Virginia Tech where deficiencies in mental health treatment are known to have been a key contributor to the tragic events there.
“Mental illnesses are diagnosable and treatable, and Congress must act not only to erase the stigma, but also to ensure parity in treatment to other illnesses through investment in effective mental health programs and proper long term treatment that will lead to healthy and productive lives,” concluded Napolitano.
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