Every May, we recognize Mental Health Month in order to bring mental health issues out of the shadows and talk about how to improve mental healthcare for all Americans. Throughout my childhood, my mother struggled with mental health issues, and I have personally dealt with the effects that mental illness can have on individuals and their families. Given my experiences, I am committed to improving resources and treatments for those living with mental health issues.
One problem that has been identified in treating mental health issues is the gap between physical healthcare and behavioral healthcare. Physical and behavioral health issues often go hand in hand, but are treated separately. In order to improve the overall health and well-being of patients, I introduced the Behavioral Health Care Integration Act (H.R.4388). This legislation will help close the gap between primary and behavioral healthcare by creating a competitive grant for merged practices that offer both of these services. Bridging the divide between behavioral and physical health is an important step in treating the whole person.
Aside from integrating care, I know that there are wholesale improvements that must be made to the mental health system in this country. I am proud to have helped introduce comprehensive mental health reform legislation that will improve mental healthcare delivery across the full continuum of care. The Comprehensive Behavioral Health and Recovery Act (H.R.4435), would increase access to care by strengthening parity between mental and physical health care, investing in primary and behavioral health care integration, developing a behavioral health crisis system, and improving mental and behavioral health services on college campuses. This legislation would also tackle the ever-growing opioid epidemic by focusing on prescriber education, substance abuse treatment, and recovery services. These are important steps to reforming our mental health system and making sure that Americans have access to the best mental healthcare possible.
I strongly believe that we need to do more to ensure that individuals who need help can access it, and that we are reaching out to our communities to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. All too often, we see individuals suffer from mental health or substance abuse disorders because their illnesses go untreated. In honoring Mental Health Month, we must recognize that patients deserve to have access to the same quality of care for mental health disorders as they do for physical diseases. Please know that I am committed to bringing awareness to this important issue, and I encourage you to join me in continuing the conversation on mental health.
Sincerely,
Dave Loebsack
Iowa's Second District
