SUPPORTING FOUR BIPARTISAN BILLS THAT ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 164
(Extensions of Remarks - September 22, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E869-E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING FOUR BIPARTISAN BILLS THAT ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
______
HON. ANNA G. ESHOO
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of four important
bipartisan bills that address the mental health crisis in our country
during the pandemic and economic recession. H.R. 1646, the Helping
Emergency Responders Overcome Act of 2019, H.R. 4564, the Suicide
Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2019, H.R. 4585, the Campaign to
Prevent Suicide Act and H.R. 5619, the Suicide Prevention Act advanced
through my Health Subcommittee and I'm pleased to support them on the
Floor.
In a recent poll, half of adults report that their mental health has
been negatively impacted due to the coronavirus. Add to this the mental
impacts on those Americans who are grieving loved ones lost to the
virus.
The economic downturn is also taking a mental toll on our fellow
Americans. Studies found for every 1 percent increase in the
unemployment rate, the suicide rate increases by 1 to 1.6 percent.
Despite the frequency of mental illness, too many suffer in silence.
Mental health is a neglected part of our health care system, with
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less than 40 percent of people with mental illness receiving any
treatment.
These bills address this mental health care crisis.
H.R. 1646, the bipartisan HERO Act introduced by Rep. Ami Bera
creates a data system at the CDC to capture public safety officer
suicide incidences and study successful interventions, authorize grants
for peer support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire
departments and emergency medical service agencies. It also requires
the development of best practices for addressing post-traumatic stress
disorder in public safety officers and educational materials.
H.R. 4564, the bipartisan Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act
of 2019 introduced by Reps. Katko, Beyer, and Napolitano increases the
authorization funding level of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
program to $50 million each year, from FY 2020 through FY 2022. The
bill also includes a pilot program to research, analyze, and employ
various innovative technologies and platforms for suicide prevention.
H.R. 4585, the bipartisan Campaign to Prevent Suicide Act, introduced
by Reps. Beyer and Gianforte directs HHS to carry out a national
suicide prevention media campaign to advertise the new 9-8-8 number.
Finally, H.R. 5619, the bipartisan Suicide Prevention Act, introduced
by Reps. Stewart and Matsui, establishes two grant programs to prevent
self-harm and suicide.
Our health as a Nation, both physical and mental, will be tested in
the months ahead. These bills will help people find the care and
treatment they need and can save lives. I urge my colleagues to support
these bipartisan bills.
____________________