U.S. House Passes Spanberger-Backed Bill Named after UVA Medical School Grad to Strengthen Mental & Behavioral Health Resources for Doctors, Nurses, & Healthcare Professionals

Statement

An overwhelming majority of the U.S. House of Representatives last night voted to pass bipartisan legislation which U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger cosponsored to support healthcare professionals' mental and behavioral health.

The Spanberger-cosponsored Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act would authorize grants to train healthcare professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders, as well as fund mental and behavioral health treatment and peer-support programming. Healthcare providers in current or former COVID-19 hotspots would be prioritized in distribution of these grants.

This legislation is named after Dr. Lorna M. Breen, an emergency medicine attending physician from Charlottesville and graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine who died by suicide in April 2020 while working on the front lines in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.

"Dr. Breen's story is absolutely heartbreaking -- and her death was a tragic moment for the UVA community, as well as our entire Commonwealth and country," said Spanberger. "From the earliest days of the pandemic, she -- along with thousands of dedicated healthcare professionals across our country -- worked tirelessly to treat patients from overcrowded waiting rooms. The paralyzing pressures these heroes face day in and day out have been greatly exacerbated by a global pandemic. The Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act would not only get much-needed help to our doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals, but it would encourage them to seek support and treatment when they need it. These heroes have been on the front lines of this pandemic for nearly two years, and I am proud to see so many of my colleagues understand that we must do what we can to protect those who work so selflessly to protect us."

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