Schneider Signals Hope and Optimism with House-Passed Mental Health and Well-Being Package

WASHINGTON - Congressmen Brad Schneider (IL-10) voted for bipartisan legislative package, Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, to holistically address American's mental health and crisis care needs.

"Right now, countless family members, friends, neighbors across our country are struggling with mental health problems and need help. We need to make it easier and cheaper for all Americans to access the appropriate health care resources. Funding mental health programs like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - soon to be 9-8-8 - and substance use disorder services is critical to caring for our neighbors. I'm proud to cast a vote today for the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act and invest in our nation's health care future," said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10).

Over half of adults in America will confront a mental illness or disorder in their life. One in five children has or will have a debilitating mental illness, and suicide is now ranked as the second leading cause of death among children.

H.R. 7666 brings hope and optimism to families and communities affected by mental health and substance use disorder by reauthorizing through FY 2027 more than 30 critical mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and grants to tackle behavioral health disparities and social determinants of health.

Some of the programs the legislation will help strengthen include:

• Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office and publishing best practices for crisis response continuum of care to help with 9-8-8 implementation
• Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services for Students in Higher Education program
• Mental Health Youth Suicide Prevention Campus Grants
• National Hotline and reauthorizes grants for maternal mental health and substance use disorders programs to support pregnant or postpartum women
• Crisis response care and suicide prevention programs for adults
• SAMHSA National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders to ensure effective treatment and ongoing support for people with eating disorders.
• Community Mental Health Services Block grants for adults and children with serious mental health conditions with five percent focusing on early interventions

Additionally, the mental health and well-being package aligns with many of Schneider's priorities to bolster the behavioral health workforce, ensure mental health parity, support mental health of children and young people, and integrate behavioral health into primary care. The legislation also makes investments in state Medicaid behavioral health programs and promotes continuity of care for juveniles in pre-trial detention to mitigate disruption in care.

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