Alexander, Murray Introduce Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act

Press Release

Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today introduced the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act, a bill to continue and improve programs that help states and local communities in suicide prevention, helping children recover from traumatic events, mental health awareness for teachers and other individuals, and assessing barriers to integrating behavioral health and primary care.

"This bill will help those suffering from mental health conditions by answering two key questions: Who needs help? And who is there to provide that help?" said Alexander. "By helping teachers and other individuals recognize the signs of mental illness and by supporting researchers and doctors working to improve care and treatment for children who go through traumatic events, this bill will help see that Americans suffering from mental illness can get the support they need as soon as possible."

"As we've seen far too often over the years in Washington state, we have absolutely to make sure that families and communities--and especially our young people--receive the support they need when facing mental health challenges," said Murray. "A person's mental health is every bit as critical as their physical health, and I'm pleased to be working on this bipartisan legislation with Chairman Alexander to strengthen mental health awareness, prevention, and resources for communities in my home state and across the country."

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