ANMH Commends Congress For Including Mental Health Provisions in Omnibus Spending Package
ACTNow for Mental Health (ANMH) commends the U.S. Congress for including landmark provisions related to mental and behavioral health as part of the omnibus spending package. On Thursday, December 28th, President Joe Biden signed the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package into law, which sets government funding levels and allocations for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2023.
In the appropriations section, Congress allocated $7.5 billion to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), including $2.8 billion for mental health.[1] This marks an increase of $970 million to invest in critical mental health programs, which expand access to services for those most in need.
Congress included a provision for “Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being,” which encompasses a broad set of policies that initially passed the House of Representatives in May 2022. This section reauthorizes through FY2027, expands, and modifies programs, grants, and activities that focus on mental and behavioral health. Specifically, the legislation reauthorizes grants for community-based programs, suicide prevention, and support for the behavioral health workforce. This section also improves coordination of federal efforts related to behavioral health, strengthens compliance of federal mental health parity requirements, and integrates behavioral health in primary care settings. Additionally, this section expands access to opioid and other substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. To view a more in-depth analysis of this legislation, click here.
“On behalf of ANMH, we applaud our congressional champions for investing in mental and behavioral health services for all Americans,” said Edward Garcia III, MHS, Founder and Board Member of ANMH and Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for Social Connection. “The bipartisan policies included in the spending package align with our organization’s priorities to expand access to mental health services and supports for those historically underserved, while fighting behavioral health stigma and enhancing health equity.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joy Chen
Director of Operations and Strategy
ACTNow for Mental Health is dedicated to expanding access to mental health services and supports, fighting mental and behavioral health stigma, and enhancing health equity. ANMH works to match young adults in need of free or low-cost, culturally competent behavioral health care, with a focus on historically underserved communities including LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), people with physical, intellectual, or mental health disabilities, and people who are uninsured or underinsured. For more information, please visit www.anmh.info.
[1] https://mindsitenews.org/2022/12/20/mental-health-funding-at-stake-as-congress-rushes-to-pass-end-of-year-package-and-avoid-government-shutdown/
Mental Health Advocacy Group Applauds President Biden for Addressing Mental Health Crisis
Washington, D.C. – This evening, President Biden delivered his first State of the Union address of his presidency where he outlined priorities relating to the economy and global crises. In addition, the President shared a comprehensive strategy to address the growing mental health crisis.
“Let’s get all Americans the mental health services they need. More people they can turn to for help, and full parity between physical and mental health care,” President Biden stated.
“The evidence doesn’t lie – rates of depression and anxiety in addition to feelings of hopelessness and sadness have skyrocketed in recent years, only to be further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Edward Garcia III, MHS, Co-Founder and Board Member of ANMH. “We applaud the Biden Administration on taking historic steps to lead our nation toward better mental health and wellbeing – with a particular focus on youth and historically underserved communities.”
Within his remarks, President Biden highlighted building system capacity, connecting people to care, and providing support to American adults and youth through addressing mental health equity. This strategy aligns with ANMH’s policy priorities including strengthening behavioral health parity, expanding access to school-based interventions, addressing stigmatization related to seeking help, and investing in a diverse, culturally competent mental health workforce. President Biden’s plan to address the national mental health crisis can be found here.
ACTNow for Mental Health is dedicated to expanding access to mental health services and supports, fighting mental and behavioral health stigma, and enhancing health equity. ANMH works to match young adults in need of free or low-cost, culturally competent behavioral health care, with a focus on historically underserved communities including LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), people with physical, intellectual, or mental health disabilities, and people who are uninsured or underinsured. For more information, please visit www.anmh.info.
ANMH Commends us surgeon general’s Advisory on youth mental health Crisis
Washington, DC – ACTNow for Mental Health (ANMH), a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to mental health services and supports, fighting mental and behavioral health stigma, and enhancing health equity, commends the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy and his office on the most recent public health Advisory, titled Protecting Youth Mental Health.
Prior to COVID-19, youth and young adults in America were facing a mental health crisis; between 2007 and 2018, the suicide rate among populations ages 10 to 24 increased by 57.4%.[1] As Dr. Murthy noted, the COVID-19 pandemic “dramatically altered young peoples’ experiences at home, at school, and in the community.” This has been reflected in in increased emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts, which were higher for adolescent girls and boys than other populations in 2021.[2]
The Advisory takes a cross-sector approach, stressing that youth mental health cannot be addressed by just one entity. Instead, Dr. Murthy urges action by family members, educators, health professionals, media organizations, social media and technology companies, community organizations, funders, employers, federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as young people themselves to come together and support the mental health of children and youth.
Dr. Murthy identified groups that were at higher risk of mental health challenges during the pandemic, highlighting youth with intellectual and development disabilities (IDDs), racial and ethnic minority youth, LGBTQ+ youth, and low-income youth among other groups – all populations that ANMH prioritizes.
“On behalf of ANMH, we are thrilled the Surgeon General is prioritizing youth mental health during this critical time,” said Edward Garcia III, MHS, Founder and Board Member of ANMH and Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for Social Connection. “We commend the Office of the Surgeon General on releasing this public health advisory and look forward to the awareness and action this public Advisory will expectantly foster – in particular for youth historically underserved and misrepresented by our mental and social health services systems.”
Within the advisory, Dr. Murthy highlighted that supporting the mental health of youth requires “a whole-of-society effort” and specifically recommends:
· Recognizing that mental health is an essential part of overall health
· Empowering youth and their families to recognize, manage, and learn from difficult emotions
· Ensuring that every child has access to high-quality, affordable, and culturally competent mental health care
· Supporting the mental health of children and youth in educational, community, and childcare settings
· Addressing the economic and social barriers that contribute to poor mental health for young people, families, and caregivers
· Increasing timely data collection and research to identify and respond to youth mental health needs more rapidly
Earlier this fall, ANMH alongside the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Defying Legal Gravity, DRK Beauty Healing, Mental Health America, and the National Council on Mental Wellbeing, ANMH responded to the Senate Finance Committee’s Request for Information on policy solutions to address unmet behavioral health needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The key recommendations this group identified align with Dr. Murthy’s advisory, notably his acknowledgment for the need of systemic change as well as the role of government in supporting mental health efforts.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joy Chen
Director of Operations and Strategy
ACTNow for Mental Health is dedicated to expanding access to mental health services and supports, fighting mental and behavioral health stigma, and enhancing health equity. ANMH works to match young adults in need of free or low-cost, culturally competent behavioral health care, with a focus on historically underserved communities including LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), people with physical, intellectual, or mental health disabilities, and people who are uninsured or underinsured. For more information, please visit www.anmh.info.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr-69-11-508.pdf
DMV-Based Non-Profit Calls for Evidence-Based Solutions to Address Unmet Behavioral Health Needs
Washington DC – Earlier this week, ACTNow for Mental Health (ANMH), alongside other national organizations including the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Defying Legal Gravity, DRK Beauty Healing, Mental Health America, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden and Ranking Member Mike Crapo in response to the Committee’s Request for Information on policy solutions to address unmet behavioral health needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Washington DC – Earlier this week, ACTNow for Mental Health (ANMH), alongside other national organizations including the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Defying Legal Gravity, DRK Beauty Healing, Mental Health America, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden and Ranking Member Mike Crapo in response to the Committee’s Request for Information on policy solutions to address unmet behavioral health needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Far too many Americans across the country face barriers to quality behavioral health care, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified this widespread issue,” said Edward Garcia III, MHS, Founder and Board Member of ANMH and Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for Social Connection. “We commend the Senate Finance Committee’s commitment to developing legislation to address these barriers and encourage the inclusion of evidence-based solutions throughout the bipartisan legislative effort.”
ANMH’s three-prong approach including advocacy, compassion, and treatment allows the DMV-based non-profit to connect America’s young adults with a network of low-cost or free behavioral health professionals that offer culturally competent care and encourage the advancement of national policies that promote equitable access to care.
“Our mission and strategic priorities focus strongly on advocacy, compassion, and mental health equity and we’re proud to partner with ANMH and voice our support for these important recommendations that address the unmet behavioral health needs that exist in far too many of our communities,” Michael Pollock, CEO of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
Prior to COVID-19, youth in America were facing a behavioral health crisis, illustrated by staggering suicide rates that increased by nearly 60% between 2007 and 2018. In a study conducted in December 2020, over 50% of young adults ages 18-24 reported symptoms of anxiety and or depression. Notably, this crisis disproportionately affects certain populations – with high rates of Black and multi-racial young adults reporting major depression, 56.8% of Latinx youth not receiving treatment for their mental illness, alarming suicide rates among AAPI and LGBTQIA+ youth, and over 17 million young adults with disabilities experiencing frequent mental distress.
“Healing is everyone's birthright. A critical part of exercising this birthright is to ensure that people, in all their diversity, are given equitable access to culturally responsive and affordable mental and behavioral health support,” said Wilma Mae Basta, Founder and CEO of DRK Beauty Healing.
ANMH, alongside other signatories, strongly support the Senate Finance Committee’s efforts to develop a bipartisan legislation package that addresses many of the behavioral health care challenges currently faced by millions of Americans. Specially, the group identified key recommendations including:
Funding for interventions that address behavioral health outside the health sector, including school-based interventions and mental health first aid.
Direct financial support to increase the level of racial, ethnic, and sexual diversity in behavioral health providers and to incentivize providers to deliver care in areas where there are notable shortages.
Development of evidence-based strategies to promote resiliency and prevent burnout in behavioral health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Direct financial support for behavioral health integration in geographical areas that lack adequate access to care and a compilation of best practices to develop an integrative approach to behavioral healthcare on a federal level.
Development of specific strategy for underserved populations that addresses stigma and discrimination.
“We thank Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo as well as the Senate Committee on Finance for their distinct focus on responding to our nation’s mental health and substance use crises and for the opportunity to weigh in on practical solutions. Policies that address staff shortages and burnout within the mental health workforce and improve access to quality care – among other proposals – are critical to ensuring that people get the care they need, when they need it,” said Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joy Chen
Director of Operations and Strategy
ACTNow for Mental Health is dedicated to expanding access to mental health services and supports, fighting mental and behavioral health stigma, and enhancing health equity. ANMH works to match young adults in need of free or low-cost, culturally competent behavioral health care, with a focus on historically underserved communities including LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), people with physical, intellectual, or mental health disabilities, and people who are uninsured or underinsured. For more information, please visit www.anmh.info.