May 9, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 77 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H3508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RAISING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

  (Mr. GIANFORTE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIANFORTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to raise mental health 
awareness during Mental Health Month.
  According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 164,000 
Montanans have a mental health condition. Unfortunately, mental 
healthcare is not available to many Montanans. In fact, over 50 percent 
of Montanans live in an area where there is a shortage of mental health 
professionals.
  I recently brought together providers, leaders, and advocates in 
Montana to discuss how we can improve mental healthcare, substance 
abuse treatment, and suicide prevention. They told me about the 
challenges they face to provide care and of their promising progress. 
They told me about resources, like telemedicine, that could improve 
treatment and help fill coverage gaps.
  Individuals impacted by mental illness can lead healthy, fulfilling 
lives. Access to treatment, though, is critical.
  Let's work together in a bipartisan way to address mental healthcare. 
Our communities depend on it.

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