As congressional leaders develop a new coronavirus emergency relief bill that’s expected to be debated later this month, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called on Congress to include funding for mental health services.
“In addition to the physical and economic toll of the disease, millions of Americans are struggling with devastating mental health issues including depression, social isolation and loneliness,” Rep. Buchanan said, noting that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. “We need to make sure Congress considers this in debating the next coronavirus relief package.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently reported that its Disaster Distress Helpline saw an 891 percent increase in March compared with March 2019, according to Rep. Buchanan, who also called on Congress to pass the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2019, H.R. 4194/S. 2661.
Rep. Buchanan cosponsored his chamber’s version of the bipartisan bill, which would require the Federal Communications Commission to designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline, according to the congressional record summary of the bill.
The new dialing code would replace the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255), according to Rep. Buchanan’s office, and make it easier for Americans to connect with lifesaving resources.
“Loneliness is already one of the biggest threats to mental health, which is even more concerning during these difficult and uncertain times of social distancing and potential isolation,” said Rep. Buchanan. “By making it easier to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and devoting resources towards these crisis centers, we can have an immediate impact in helping those in mental health crisis.”
Rep. Buchanan also said that dozens of studies have linked social isolation and loneliness to a variety of mental and physical health problems.