The tragic shooting in Newtown has called attention to the dire state of our country’s mental healthcare system. In line with the President’s remark that we must “work on making access to mental health care at least as easy as access to getting a gun,” we urge you to consider 4 proposals that will increase Americans’ access to mental health & addictions services by expanding public education about mental illness and increasing the health system’s capacity:
1. Include public education on mental/addiction disorders in the President’s 2014 budget request.
2. Support the Mental Health First Aid Higher Education Act.
3. Incorporate a more robust definition of community mental health centers into a revised Medicare Conditions of Participation.
4. Support the Excellence in Mental Health Act.