|
(Washington D.C.)- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution authored by Rep. Grace Napolitano designating May as Mental Health Month. The final vote was 407 to 1, with 23 abstaining.
“Mental health is an issue that has been ignored for decades,” Napolitano said. “It is time we acknowledged that untreated mental illness continues to cause suffering among our friends, family, soldiers and veterans. Awareness is essential for erasing the myths and stigma surrounding mental illness that prevent people from seeking care. I applaud my fellow members of Congress for their support and hope to call upon them again for future legislation addressing mental health concerns.”
Napolitano is the author of HR 2531, the Mental Health in Schools Act, which would provide grant funding for preventive mental health services in public schools. The bill is modeled after a successful mental health program Napolitano has supported in her district over the last 9 years.
In May, mental health non-profits and advocacy groups held rallies and educational events across the country to raise awareness about mental health issues.
Napolitano held three briefings in Washington this month to educate congressional staff on mental health issues. The first focused on children’s mental health, the second on mental health programs in the U.S. military, and the third on suicide prevention.
Napolitano is the co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus.
(###)
|
