06/23/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2022 10:12
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which includes several provisions of Congressman Tony Cárdenas' (CA-29)988 Implementation Act and Parity Implementation Assistance Act. The legislative package reauthorizes key Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs to address the national mental health and substance use disorder crises.
"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the way mental health crises are treated in America," said Congressman Cárdenas. "When people start calling 988 in just a few short weeks, they must be connected to the proper assistance they need, with the urgency and support they deserve. As I've said repeatedly, there must be someone to call, someone to come and somewhere to go. I'm glad the Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act includes provisions from my legislation, including support for crisis response teams. However, Congress must do more to ensure all states are best equipped to respond to a person in crisis. That's why I will continue to fight to get the entirety of my 988 Implementation Act and Parity Implementation Assistance Act across the finish line."
America is experiencing a growing mental health crisis. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., and second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. More than 100,000 Americans have died from overdoses in the last 12 months.
Right now, Americans are forced to rely on police for assistance during a mental health or substance use crisis. Most police officers are not trained to effectively respond to mental health emergencies, and relying on them to be the first emergency response unit during a mental health emergency increases the chances of violence. In fact, a police encounter with a civilian is 16 times more likely to result in that person's death if they have an untreated mental illness.
For 988 to be truly effective, crisis services must operate in a linked fashion. There must be someone to call, someone to come and somewhere to go if needed. To prepare for the July launch of 988, Congressman Cárdenas introduced the bipartisan 988 Implementation Act earlier this year.
Provisions from the Congressman's 988 Implementation Act and Parity Implementation Assistance Act included in the bills passed by the House today (H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022) include:
For a section by section of the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, click here.
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