Napolitano Promotes Early Intervention for Mental Illness

(Washington D.C.)- Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano joined numerous mental health professionals and experts Wednesday to urge her colleagues to endorse and fund proactive programs that would help diagnose and treat mental illnesses ranging from bipolar disorder to depression in our nation’s youth.

             The Campaign for Mental Health Reform convened Wednesday’s Congressional briefing in conjunction with Napolitano, who co-chairs the Congressional Mental Health Caucus with Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa. Officials from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health joined a college student and school district superintendent to speak about the great importance of early detection in the program entitled “Promoting Resilience and Mental Health: The Need for Early Intervention for Children and Adolescents.” 

            “I’m delighted that these organizations have taken the lead in bringing all interested partners in mental health issues to work with us and acknowledge that mental health is a vital concern for our future generations,” said Napolitano, D-Norwalk. “This issue affects everything from public safety, work productivity, success in school and a family’s peace of mind. We need to make sure we work to find avenues to assist people in getting help when and where they need it.”

            Napolitano is continuing to work to address the stigma associated with mental illness – the underlying theme of Wednesday’s event – by explaining that getting community involvement is necessary to reach troubled youth receive support and realize there are solutions for their problems. The speakers represented a cross-section of our society, from a parent to a student to an educator to a therapist, and each discussed the importance of a joint and coordinated effort in identifying early warning signs at the grade-school level by explaining that no one person can act in a vacuum.

            Alarming statistics showing one in three Latina adolescents contemplated suicide prompted the Congresswoman to fight for mental health coverage during her seven years in Congress. One of Wednesday’s speakers highlighted another disturbing statistic: one in five Latinas has actually attempted to kill herself.

            “This problem will not go away by itself,” she said. “We all must work together to detect these problems before they get worse. It is crucial that Congress pays close attention to the behavioral and emotional needs of our youngsters who are our future.”
 

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