Congress Passes Sensible Mental Health Policy Reform

Yesterday the House passed the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act with a vote of 422-2. As a member of the NAMI Tulsa executive committee, I can say that there is broad agreement on the need for these changes.

• Families caring for a seriously ill psychiatric patient will now have greater access to their loved one's treatment status and will be better able to assist in preventing any of the tragedies we have recently witnessed.
• Money which has been previously spent on frivolous federal programs will now be redirected toward treatment capacity at the nation's inpatient treatment facilities.
• Significantly more ill people will be able to avoid incarceration in our penal system because cops will have a real alternative whereby the sick can get real help instead of being warehoused in prison cells.

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The principal author, Dr. Tim Murphy(R-Pennsylvania) said;
  "More than 11 million Americans have severe schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression yet millions are going without treatment and families struggle to find care for loved ones.  The federal government’s approach to mental health has been a chaotic patchwork of antiquated programs and ineffective policies across numerous agencies. Sadly, patients end up in the criminal justice system or on the streets because services are not available.  
  The Helping Families In Mental Health Crisis Act fixes the nation’s broken mental health system by focusing programs and resources on psychiatric care for patients & families most in need of services."

Senate Action Needed

The next step is for the Senate to vote on the bill. Use this link to look up your Senator and how to contact them. 
 
Learn more about key provisions of the bill here and read the full text here.
 
Together we can make improvements to the mental health system.