For Immediate Release                                                  Contact: Amanda Molk, 202-225-5256
October 2, 2003

Napolitano Introduces Resolution Urging Action on Mental Health

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA38) today introduced H.Con.Res. 292, a congressional resolution regarding the report by President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.  “I commend the Commission for their insightful and informative report.  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution which urges Congress to implement the goals and recommendations of the report.  As we commemorate Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 5-11, we must take steps to ensure affordable, accessible, and high quality mental health care for all Americans,” stated Napolitano.

As the Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, Napolitano counts improving mental health services as one of her top priorities.  “Almost one quarter of all Americans currently suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder, but a only small fraction of them actually receive treatment.  This is unacceptable.  I have taken steps in my district to help provide more mental health services, particularly in schools.  It is time to expand upon that work and improve our national system of mental health care delivery,” explained the Congresswoman.

The Commission’s report provides the following six goals to ensure that all Americans can access high quality mental health services: 

(1) To help all Americans understand that mental health is essential to overall health;

(2) To make mental health care consumer and family driven;

(3) To eliminate disparities in mental health services;

(4) To make early mental illness screening, assessment, and referral to services common practice;

(5) To ensure delivery of excellent mental health care and acceleration of mental illness research; and

(6) To use technology to access mental health care and information.

“It would be a tragedy to ignore the Commission’s report and its sensible recommendations.  Every year we lose approximately 30,000 lives in the U.S. to suicide.  Every year we lose millions of dollars in lost productivity due to mental illness.  Many of these lives and dollars could be saved if high quality mental health services were accessible to all.  I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Mental Health Caucus to address this issue,” Napolitano concluded.

Representative Grace F. Napolitano, 38th District of California
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