U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act late last week.
The legislation seeks to enhance programs that assist states and local communities in suicide prevention, help children recover from traumatic events, provide mental-health awareness for teachers and other individuals, and assess barriers to integrating behavioral health and primary care.
“Despite a renewed effort to address the challenges of mental illness, our communities remain largely unequipped to respond to the need for mental-health awareness, screening and services,” Durbin said. “Our legislation will make federal help available for states and local communities to expand their mental-health services and outreach programs.”
The legislation also updates programs that improve mental-health awareness and supports individuals, schools and health-care providers in addressing mental-health needs within their communities.
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