As the students of Virginia Tech head back to class struggling to cope with the unspeakable violence that overwhelmed their school, we as a nation are sharing in both their sorrow and their questions of how such a horrific tragedy could occur on one of our college campuses. Unfortunately, school shootings have become all too common in our society. Kentuckians will never forget the 1997 shooting at Heath High School in Paducah. And eight years ago, nearly to the day of the Virginia Tech massacre, our country was confronted by the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
While we may never fully understand what ultimately drives someone to commit such a senseless act, there seems to be a common thread among these school shootings. Sadly, the Virginia Tech tragedy has reminded us of the seriousness of mental disorders and the importance of early detection and treatment. I have always been a strong advocate for mental health and hope Congress will be encouraged to place added importance on this pressing matter in the coming year.
It is important to remember that the overwhelming majority of people who suffer from mental health issues do not physically hurt anybody. Indeed, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. We must also remember that the gunman’s mental state in no way excuses him of his actions, but his history of mental problems certainly causes us to reflect on the seriousness of mental illness.
First Lady Rosalynn Carter began advocating for mental health awareness in 1971. When she began her work, mental illnesses were shrouded in shame and largely ignored. While the medical community has progressed dramatically over the last decade in understanding how to treat mental disease, I believe the public stigma that remains comes at a price our society cannot afford.
It is critical that we continue to raise awareness of mental health issues. Since being in Congress, I have been a member of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus to hopefully do just that. Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for persons aged 15-44. And aside from the enormous personal costs associated with mental health problems, the National Mental Health Association estimates that the American economy loses about $105 billion each year through lost productivity due to untreated mental illness.
It is long overdue for mental illnesses to be treated just as physical illnesses are treated. A 1999 Surgeon General’s report showed that mental health illnesses are largely biologically-based and can be effectively treated in a clinical setting. For this and other reasons, I have cosponsored H.R. 1367, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007, which would require insurance companies to treat mental health services as they do other health services. In order to effectively face the problem of mental illness, we must ensure that individuals have the insurance coverage they need to afford treatment.
Looking forward, it is critical that the federal government invest in more training to detect mental health problems, more research to prevent and treat mental disorders, and more treatment options for those suffering from mental illness. We must do all we can to destigmatize mental disorders and provide equity in health care to ensure that the nearly 60 million people in America who suffer from mental illnesses can live healthier, happier, and more productive lives. While we are all still mourning the tragedy at Virginia Tech, I hope soon enough Congress will turn that mourning into a means for improving the mental health of this country.
