[Pages H2152-H2153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

  (Mr. Taylor of Ohio was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shine light on a critical 
subject that impacts each one of us, as well as the ones we love: 
mental health.
  Established by Congress in 1949, May was designated as Mental Health 
Awareness Month to increase awareness of the importance of mental 
health and wellness.
  Mental health is about more than just illness. It is about well-
being, resilience, and the ability to cope with various challenges we 
experience day to day. These challenges don't discriminate. They impact 
people of every age, background, and community. Many suffer in silence 
out of fear of being judged or misunderstood.
  For many years, this topic was highly stigmatized, but this is, 
fortunately, changing. This month, I am honored to bring attention to 
it. Mental Health Awareness Month is part of that

[[Page H2153]]

change and a reminder to prioritize rest, connection, and the things 
that contribute to our overall wellness.
  In our great Buckeye State, we are grateful to have multiple 
resources available to help Ohioans in times of need. The Ohio 
Department of Mental Health and Addiction provides resources and 
readily available services with their Ohio CareLine available 24 hours 
a day and 7 days a week to offer emotional support. By simply dialing 
988, anyone in our Nation can access the national mental health 
hotline, which offers free and confidential support from trained 
counselors around the clock.
  I thank our local mental health providers, support workers, and first 
responders for the critical work they do to intervene in times of need. 
Without their timely response and attentive care, our region could not 
be the healthy and supportive place it is today.
  I recognize our local police officers, who are often the first ones 
on the scene of an emergency and the first wave of assistance for 
someone experiencing a mental health emergency. They are heroes, 
lifesavers, and an irreplaceable cornerstone in our communities who 
help Ohioans live their lives to the fullest.
  With agriculture being the backbone of southern Ohio, our region is 
home to countless farmers, ranchers, and producers who work hard to 
secure our Nation's food supply and put food on our families' tables. 
They work long hours out in the fields, often on their own, trying to 
turn a crop and a profit in a challenging farming economy.
  Being isolated from the resources that are available in more urban 
areas, farmers and farming families are facing a significant mental 
health challenge. With 96 percent of farms in Ohio's Second 
Congressional District being family farms, this demonstrates how close 
to home this issue hits my district.
  With the devastatingly high rate of mental health challenges and 
substance abuse issues across our country, where a person lives 
shouldn't dictate their ability to access critical healthcare services.
  Tragically, Ohio's Second Congressional District has the highest rate 
of unintentional drug overdoses in our entire State, which is often 
linked to mental health challenges. That is why I was proud to 
introduce the Rural Wellness Act in March of this year, which will 
reauthorize the prioritization of grants for telemedicine projects 
addressing behavioral and mental health, including substance abuse. 
These grants are part of the United States Department of Agriculture's 
Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. It will 
make mental health care services more accessible to those who need 
them.
  Congress should pass this bill to deliver critical care to farmers 
and rural families who so desperately need it. However, in order to 
access telehealthcare services, Congress must also prioritize broadband 
expansion for our Nation's rural areas.
  Rural families desperately need telehealthcare services. These are 
only accessible if families have internet access. Large swaths of my 
district lack access to high-speed internet, which means rural families 
are isolated from critical healthcare options, as well as business and 
education opportunities that could support families and alleviate some 
of the stress that providers are feeling.
  Congress must tackle this problem holistically. In this case, getting 
broadband to our rural families could make the difference between life 
and death. All in all, expanded broadband access would lead to 
significant mental health benefits in our rural communities.
  As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, may each of us take a 
moment to prioritize wellness and reach out to those around us who 
might need a helping hand.
  I thank each friend, family member, teacher, community leader, or 
public servant who has lent their support to someone experiencing 
mental health challenges for their service. It is because of people 
like them that communities are safer, healthier, and more supportive 
places to live.

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