Mental Health Month

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 26, 2006)

* Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues that May is Mental Health Month. I would also like to thank those who have dedicated their lives to mental health care.

* Now more than ever, we must commit ourselves to full mental health parity. Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from mental health disorders and more than 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetimes. Many millions suffer from serious, debilitating, and life altering mental disorders such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. Nearly every American has friends and relatives that cope with such disorders.

* Mental health professionals not only help people with organic mental health disorders, but also help people recovering from traumatic and life changing experiences. Over the last few years, Americans have experienced the trauma of a major terrorist attack and two wars overseas. Tens of thousands of families have experienced firsthand the loss or serious injury of a loved one. Tens of thousands of soldiers who have sustained serious injuries will need assistance adjusting to a life far different than they left. Thousands of American soldiers will return home in need of mental health services related to their combat experiences.

* I hope that the Committee on Education and the Workforce will continue to work to ensure that the mental health needs of the elderly are met as we reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The elderly are the most vulnerable to mental health disorders and elderly men are the demographic most to likely commit suicide. Specifically, I want to ensure that senior citizens have access to mental health services in their community or in the same place that they receive primary health care services. I am pleased that we are beginning to make some headway on this important issue.

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