A mental health system being pushed to the brink
7724 actions taken
2276 needed to reach next goal
The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing America into a mental health crisis that we aren’t prepared to address. Social isolation, financial distress, fears about health and an uncertain future are worsening symptoms for people with mental health conditions and causing new mental health challenges for many others.
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800) passed in the House on May 15, and it includes many of NAMI’s priorities.
Now we need your help in
ensuring the Senate prioritizes mental health provisions similar to the HEROES Act in any Senate action.
The HEROES Act supports mental
health by:
- Protecting
state and local capacity to provide mental health services: State and
local governments are on the verge of making widespread cuts. This bill
provides emergency funds to preserve mental health services and meet growing
demand.
- Enhancing the ability to respond to mental health crises: Helplines are experiencing surges in calls as people struggle. The HEROES Act establishes 9-8-8 as the nation’s three-digit hotline for effective mental health crisis care and suicide prevention.
- Protecting people with mental illness who are justice-involved: There are alarming gaps in our health care system’s ability to care for people in custody and as they reenter the community. This bill provides Medicaid coverage for eligible people leaving the criminal justice system.
- Ensuring safe housing for people with mental illness: Many people with mental health conditions do not have safe housing or are at risk of losing housing with the loss of steady income. The HEROES Act includes investments in emergency rental assistance, assistance to homeowners and to people experiencing homelessness.
- Preserving the mental health treatment infrastructure: While the need for mental health services has never been higher, many mental health providers are reducing services. This bill includes $100 billion in emergency funding for health care providers, including mental health providers.
Raise your
voice and ask your Senators to act NOW to address mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Want to have more of an impact? Add a personal story to the emails to your members of Congress on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the mental health of you or somebody you know.