S2680, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, needs YOUR help!
Mental Health Reform is close to finishing this race. Our job is to make sure Congress is committed to getting it over the finish line.
What is happening?
Congress is about to enter the “lame duck session,” which is the period between the election and when the new Congress convenes in 2017. Any bill that is not passed before the new Congress is sworn in is dead. To be passed by the new Congress, a bill must be reintroduced and go through the entire process again. We don’t want to start over. We want mental health reform this year.
How can you help?
NAMI is leading a National Call-In Day for Senate Mental Health Reform on Tuesday, November 15th and we need every member of NAMI to get on board.
We can use your help.
You can promote the National Call-In for mental health reform by using the materials below as part of a six-day campaign leading up to Nov. 15th:
· Thu, Nov. 10th—Facebook post and Tweets (see attachment)
· Fri, Nov. 11th—Tweets (see attachment)
· Sat, Nov. 12th—Tweets (see attachment)
· Sun, Nov. 13th—Facebook post and Tweets (see attachment)
· Mon, Nov. 14th—Advocacy Alert and Tweets (see attachment)
· Tues, Nov. 15th—Facebook post and Tweets (see attachment)
What is happening?
Congress is about to enter the “lame duck session,” which is the period between the election and when the new Congress convenes in 2017. Any bill that is not passed before the new Congress is sworn in is dead. To be passed by the new Congress, a bill must be reintroduced and go through the entire process again. We don’t want to start over. We want mental health reform this year.
How can you help?
NAMI is leading a National Call-In Day for Senate Mental Health Reform on Tuesday, November 15th and we need every member of NAMI to get on board.
We can use your help.
You can promote the National Call-In for mental health reform by using the materials below as part of a six-day campaign leading up to Nov. 15th:
· Thu, Nov. 10th—Facebook post and Tweets (see attachment)
· Fri, Nov. 11th—Tweets (see attachment)
· Sat, Nov. 12th—Tweets (see attachment)
· Sun, Nov. 13th—Facebook post and Tweets (see attachment)
· Mon, Nov. 14th—Advocacy Alert and Tweets (see attachment)
· Tues, Nov. 15th—Facebook post and Tweets (see attachment)
| memo_to_the_field-_mh_reform_call-in_day-_november_15.docx |
Wisconsin constituents need mental health reform! Can you take five minutes of your day to call or e-mail your Senators? To send an e-mail or Tweet, follow the links below. Attached you will also find more information on S. 2680.
Let them know: "I care about mental health reform! Please bring S. 2680, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, to a full Senate floor vote before the Memorial Day recess or as soon as possible!"
1 in 5 Americans have a mental health condition. With the right care, recovery is possible. But, most people aren’t getting the care they need. In fact, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 73% of Americans say that a lack of access to mental health care is a major problem.
The Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 (S. 2680) will help by:
Contact your Senators today.
Senator Ron Johnson:
Milwaukee Office: 414-276-7282
Oshkosh Office: 920-230-7250
Senator Tammy Baldwin:
Madison Office: 608-264-5338
Milwaukee Office: 414-297-4451
LaCrosse Office: 608-796-0045
Let them know: "I care about mental health reform! Please bring S. 2680, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, to a full Senate floor vote before the Memorial Day recess or as soon as possible!"
1 in 5 Americans have a mental health condition. With the right care, recovery is possible. But, most people aren’t getting the care they need. In fact, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 73% of Americans say that a lack of access to mental health care is a major problem.
The Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 (S. 2680) will help by:
- Promoting the integration of health and mental health care, so people get care that treats the whole person, not just one condition.
- Increasing the mental health workforce, so more trained professionals are available to help.
- Strengthening enforcement of mental health parity, so health plans are held accountable for the coverage people paid for.
Contact your Senators today.
Senator Ron Johnson:
Milwaukee Office: 414-276-7282
Oshkosh Office: 920-230-7250
Senator Tammy Baldwin:
Madison Office: 608-264-5338
Milwaukee Office: 414-297-4451
LaCrosse Office: 608-796-0045
CLICK Here to Join the NAMI Voice!
1 in 5 Americans have a mental health condition. With the right care, recovery is possible. But, most people aren't getting the care they need because America's mental health system is broken.
Here are the facts:
S 2680 combats suicide in our schools and communities, so precious lives are saved.
In order to take important steps toward mental health reform, S 2680 needs to be passed by the Senate. But, time is running out.
All across America, people who care about mental health are calling for a vote.
At a time when suicide rates are rising-over 40,000 lives a year are lost to suicide-Congress should not turn its back on mental health.
Call your U.S. Senators and tell them to bring the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, S 2680, to a vote on the Senate Floor before the Memorial Day recess.
1 in 5 Americans have a mental health condition. With the right care, recovery is possible. But, most people aren't getting the care they need because America's mental health system is broken.
Here are the facts:
- America's suicide rate is the highest it's been in 30 years.
- Half of Americans with mental illness did not get any mental health care in the past year.
- Mental health care is unfairly restricted by many health insurance plans.
S 2680 combats suicide in our schools and communities, so precious lives are saved.
- Authorizes the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program
- Extends the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act to provide suicide prevention for all ages and creates a national suicide technical assistance center
- Creates a Minority Fellowship Program to increase the number of qualified, culturally-competent mental health professionals
- Reauthorizes grants to increase training of mental health professionals
- Authorizes grants for telehealth child psychiatry to provide remote psychiatric expertise to pediatric mental health and primary care practices
- Requires audits of plans that have five or more parity violations and reports to Congress on the result of completed federal parity investigations
- Requires additional federal guidance to help plans comply with the parity law
- Requires a federal action plan to enhance parity enforcement and a GAO parity study
- Requires 5% of state mental health block grant funds to be used to support evidence-based programs that address early serious mental illness, including psychotic disorders (such as First Episode Psychosis, or FEP, programs)
- Establishes grants for effective early childhood mental health programs
- Supports training of medical residents, nurses, physician assistants and social workers to provide mental health services in integrated care settings in underserved areas
- Creates grants to support integrated primary and behavioral health care services
- Authorizes grants to enhance community crisis response services for people with mental illness or substance use disorders
- Authorizes grants to develop and maintain databases of crisis stabilization and psychiatric inpatient beds and beds at residential treatment facilities
In order to take important steps toward mental health reform, S 2680 needs to be passed by the Senate. But, time is running out.
All across America, people who care about mental health are calling for a vote.
At a time when suicide rates are rising-over 40,000 lives a year are lost to suicide-Congress should not turn its back on mental health.
Call your U.S. Senators and tell them to bring the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, S 2680, to a vote on the Senate Floor before the Memorial Day recess.
