Gianforte Focuses on Suicide Prevention, Increasing Access to Mental Health Services at Hearing

Statement

At a congressional hearing today, Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) urged action on suicide prevention bills, including measures he introduced to establish and promote 9-8-8 as a national suicide hotline.

"These [suicide prevention] bills were needed before the nation entered an unprecedented health and economic crisis. With hundreds of millions of Americans worried about their health and millions out of work and restricted from social interactions, it's more important now than ever," Gianforte said.

"People are hurting in Montana and across our nation. We should be able to work together to help make the suicide hotline work in this crisis," Gianforte continued.

Gianforte also asked the president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) about the impact of expanding telehealth services on mental health care.

"We have a population that is mostly rural, and it's extremely hard to find mental health providers for these communities. Can you talk specifically about how telehealth for mental health services help fill this gap in rural America?" Gianforte asked.

Citing his experience in Montana, APA President Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M.P.H., responded, "Absolutely. It can make all the difference. I've been to Montana. I know how long it took me to get from one farm to the next farm. It makes services accessible to anybody no matter where they are."

Today's hearing of the Health Subcommittee included Gianforte's bipartisan Campaign to Prevent Suicide Act, H.R. 4585, which he introduced with Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) in October 2019.

In Congress, Gianforte has focused on suicide prevention and increasing access to health care through telehealth.

In April 2019, Gianforte brought together providers, experts, and advocates for a roundtable discussion in Billings about ideas to prevent suicide, reduce barriers to substance abuse treatment and mental health care, and increase access to care in underserved communities.

Later that year, Gianforte introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4194, to create a universal telephone number, 9-8-8, as the National Suicide Hotline. The bill cleared a critical hurdle in March of this year, passing the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.

In February of this year, Gianforte introduced bipartisan legislation to expand telehealth services throughout the country with Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), chair of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Last week, he introduced a measure to permanently tear down regulatory barriers to telehealth, while advancing access to emerging technology for seniors especially in rural areas

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