U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Mental Health Caucus, led a briefing on childhood depression and introduced a resolution to recognize May as Mental Health Month.
“We are erasing stigma one briefing at a time, but this fight goes far beyond the halls of Congress,” said Rep. Katko and U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), also co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, in a joint May 10 statement released after the briefing.
“Mental health continues to draw more national attention, yet it remains severely underfunded and misunderstood,” said the lawmakers, who were joined at the briefing by leading mental health organizations, including the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), as well as individuals who shared their personal experiences and emphasized the benefits of early identification and treatment.
“We need greater investment at all stages of life, especially early on,” Reps. Katko and Napolitano said. “Every child in America, regardless of ZIP code or socioeconomic status, must be provided the services he or she needs.”
Dr. Tami Benton, the psychiatrist-in-chief and chair of psychiatry at CHOP, noted during the briefing that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for 10-24 year olds, “the majority of whom suffer from depression, a treatable condition.”
“Estimates through 2016 suggest that 3.1 million adolescents ages 12-17 years have been affected by depression, however, 60 percent have not received treatment,” Dr. Benton said. “Early recognition and intervention are key to successful treatment of child and adolescent depression.”
Benton said the stigma of mental health conditions can be decreased by the increase in access to care that occurs “by treating young people where they are seeking support — from schools and their primary care providers.”
Dr. William Arroyo, medical director of the Children’s System of Care of LACDMH, agreed and added that “providing mental health services in stigma-free environments, [such as] in schools, is essential to the well-being of youth.” And raising public awareness about early intervention for mental health problems in young people, he said, is critical for them to be successful later on in their lives.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Mental Health America co-hosted the briefing and panel discussion, according to a statement from the lawmakers’ offices.
Reps. Katko and Napolitano on May 9 introduced House Resolution (H.Res.) 883 to designate May 2018 as Mental Health Month and to help raise awareness about mental illness, which affects an estimated 44.7 million adults in the United States, according to the resolution.
H.Res.883 would “remove the stigma associated with mental illness and place emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental health recovery; recognizes mental well-being is equally as important as physical well-being for citizens, communities, businesses, and the economy in the United States; applauds the coalescing of national, community, medical, and faith-based organizations in working to promote public awareness of mental health and providing critical information and support to the people and families affected by mental illness; supports the finding of the President’s Commission on Mental Health that the nation’s failure to prioritize mental health is a national tragedy; and encourages all to draw on “Mental Health Month” as an opportunity to promote mental well-being and awareness, ensure access to appropriate services, and support overall quality of life for those living with mental illness,” according to the text of the resolution.
“Mental health affects the well-being of communities in every congressional district across the country, but many areas lack adequate resources to treat those in need,” the members said in their joint statement. “We invite our colleagues to work with us to raise awareness and reduce stigma this May, so we can provide our constituents with the support and services they need to thrive.”
H.Res.883 has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.