Since 1990, the first week in October has been designated "Mental Health Awareness Week" to educate the public and raise awareness about the challenges facing those with mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Over forty bills have been introduced in the 114th Congress on the topic.
Source: NAMI
In the wake of the Oregon school shooting, several Members of Congress have called for action on mental health issues to help stem the violence. "Momentum is building for legislation to reform the U.S. mental health system, which has stalled for several years over disagreements concerning patient privacy and involuntary mental health treatment policies." – Morning Consult
(See: "Mass Shootings and a Mental-Health Disgrace" — opinion article in the Wall Street Journal by Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA].
Here are the bills pending in Congress about mental health treatment, care, and caregiving:
Bills are listed by number of cosponsors. Click on the links below to weigh in and tell Congress what you think about the proposals.
Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Murphy Cosponsors: 141
To make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes.
Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Doug Collins Cosponsors: 61
To increase public safety by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, veterans treatment services, mental health treatment, and substance abuse systems.
Clay Hunt SAV Act
Sponsor: Sen. John McCain Cosponsors: 52
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Mental Health in Schools Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Grace Napolitano Cosponsors: 50
To amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend projects relating to children and violence to provide access to school-based comprehensive mental health programs.
Enhancing Veterans' Access to Treatment Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Murphy Cosponsors: 50
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish non-formulary drugs and medicines to veterans diagnosed with mental health disorders, and for other purposes.
Expressing the sense of Congress that conversion therapy, including efforts by mental health practitioners to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, is dangerous and harmful and should be prohibited from being practiced on minors.
Sponsor: Rep. Jackie Speier Cosponsors: 40
Expressing the sense of Congress that conversion therapy, including efforts by mental health practitioners to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, is dangerous and harmful and should be prohibited from being practiced on minors.
Clay Hunt SAV Act
Sponsor: Rep. Timothy Walz Cosponsors: 39
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Ruth Moore Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Chellie Pingree Cosponsors: 31
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.
Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Alan Franken Cosponsors: 31
A bill to increase public safety by facilitating collaboration among the criminal justice, juvenile justice, veterans treatment services, mental health treatment, and substance abuse systems.
Expressing support for designation of the first full week of May as \National Mental Health No Stigma Week\"."
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Peters Cosponsors: 30
Expressing support for designation of the first full week of May as \National Mental Health No Stigma Week\"."
Safer Communities Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Thompson Cosponsors: 30
To protect individuals by strengthening the Nation's mental health infrastructure, improving the understanding of violence, strengthening firearm prohibitions and protections for at-risk individuals, and improving and expanding the reporting of mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Expressing support for the designation of May 2015 as \Mental Health Month\"."
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Murphy Cosponsors: 27
Expressing support for the designation of May 2015 as \Mental Health Month\"."
Stop Harming Our Kids Resolution of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker Cosponsors: 27
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that conversion therapy, including efforts by mental health practitioners to change the sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression of an individual, is dangerous and harmful and should be prohibited from being practiced on minors.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that gun violence is a public health issue and Congress should enact by the end of the 114th Congress comprehensive Federal legislation that protects the Second Amendment and keeps communities safe and healthy, including expanding enforceable background checks for all commercial gun sales, improving the mental health system in the United States, and making gun trafficking and straw purchasing a Federal crime.
Sponsor: Rep. Alan Lowenthal Cosponsors: 23
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that gun violence is a public health issue and Congress should enact by the end of the 114th Congress comprehensive Federal legislation that protects the Second Amendment and keeps communities safe and healthy, including expanding enforceable background checks for all commercial gun sales, improving the mental health system in the United States, and making gun trafficking and straw purchasing a Federal crime.
Mental Health First Aid Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Lynn Jenkins Cosponsors: 23
To amend section 520J of the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants for mental health first aid training programs.
Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Lamar Alexander Cosponsors: 22
A bill to reauthorize and improve programs related to mental health and substance use disorders.
Veterans' Mental Health Care Access Act
Sponsor: Rep. Tom MacArthur Cosponsors: 20
To amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to expand the eligibility of veterans to receive mental health care at non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Christopher Gibson Cosponsors: 20
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under part B of the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
Mental Health First Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Kelly Ayotte Cosponsors: 17
A bill to amend section 520J of the Public Service Health Act to authorize grants for mental health first aid training programs.
Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act
Sponsor: Rep. Julia Brownley Cosponsors: 17
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify mental health care and suicide prevention programs and metrics that are effective in treating women veterans as part of the evaluation of such programs by the Secretary.
Student Support Act
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee Cosponsors: 14
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to States for assistance in hiring additional school-based mental health and student service providers.
Ruth Moore Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Jon Tester Cosponsors: 13
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.
End Purchase of Firearms by Dangerous Individuals Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline Cosponsors: 13
To incentivize State reporting systems that allow mental health professionals to submit information on certain individuals deemed dangerous for purposes of prohibiting firearm possession by such individuals, and for other purposes.
Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp Act
Sponsor: Rep. CarloSen. Curbelo Cosponsors: 12
To provide for the issuance of a Mental Health Awareness Semipostal Stamp.
Mental Health in Schools Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Alan Franken Cosponsors: 11
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend projects relating to children and violence to provide access to school-based comprehensive mental health programs.
Mental Health Reform Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cassidy Cosponsors: 10
A bill to make available needed psychiatric, psychological, and supportive services for individuals with mental illness and families in mental health crisis, and for other purposes.
Classified Veterans Access to Care Act
Sponsor: Rep. Kyrsten Sinema Cosponsors: 8
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the mental health treatment provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans who served in classified missions.
Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Glenn Thompson Cosponsors: 8
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide an individual with a mental health screening before the individual enlists in the Armed Forces or is commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Prioritizing Veterans Access to Mental Health Care Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Joni Ernst Cosponsors: 7
A bill to expand eligibility for health care under the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to include certain veterans seeking mental health care, and for other purposes.
Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. John Barrasso Cosponsors: 7
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under part B of the Medicare program, and for other purposes.
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to mental health services under the Medicare program.
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee Cosponsors: 7
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to mental health services under the Medicare program.
To strengthen our mental health system and improve public safety.
Sponsor: Rep. Martha McSally Cosponsors: 7
To strengthen our mental health system and improve public safety.
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for a review of the characterization or terms of discharge from the Armed Forces of individuals with mental health disorders alleged to affect terms of discharge.
Sponsor: Sen. Gary Peters Cosponsors: 3
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for a review of the characterization or terms of discharge from the Armed Forces of individuals with mental health disorders alleged to affect terms of discharge.
Expanding Opportunities for Recovery Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Foster Cosponsors: 3
To authorize the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, acting through the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, to award grants to States to expand access to clinically appropriate services for opioid abuse, dependence, or addiction.
Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Robert Portman Cosponsors: 2
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide an individual with a mental health screening before the individual enlists in the Armed Forces or is commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Recognizing the important contribution and added value of mental health and psychosocial support services and the importance of building such capacity in humanitarian and development contexts.
Sponsor: Rep. Betty McCollum Cosponsors: 2
Recognizing the important contribution and added value of mental health and psychosocial support services and the importance of building such capacity in humanitarian and development contexts.
Examining America's Mental Health Services Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. David McKinley Cosponsors: 1
To provide for a study by the Institute of Medicine on gaps in mental health services and how these gaps can increase the risk of violent acts.
Military and Veterans Mental Health Provider Assessment Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Joe Donnelly Cosponsors: 1
A bill to improve the provision of mental health care to members of the Armed Forces and veterans from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Community Provider Readiness Recognition Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Joe Donnelly Cosponsors: 1
A bill to designate certain non-Department mental health care providers who treat members of the Armed Forces and veterans as providers who have particular knowledge relating to the provision of mental health care to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.
Youth Mental Health Research Act
Sponsor: Rep. Chaka Fattah Cosponsors: 1
To provide for a Youth Mental Health Research Network.
A bill to amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that mental health screenings and assessments are provided to children and youth upon entry into foster care.
Sponsor: Sen. Roy Blunt Cosponsors: 1
A bill to amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that mental health screenings and assessments are provided to children and youth upon entry into foster care.
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to mental health services under the Medicare program.
Sponsor: Sen. Debbie Stabenow Cosponsors: 1
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to mental health services under the Medicare program.
A resolution recognizing the importance of mental health globally and highlighting the contributions and value of mental health, psychosocial support, and human capacity, particularly in development contexts and humanitarian settings.
Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Murphy Cosponsors: 1
A resolution recognizing the importance of mental health globally and highlighting the contributions and value of mental health, psychosocial support, and human capacity, particularly in development contexts and humanitarian settings.
Safer Communities Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal Cosponsors: 0
A bill to protect individuals by strengthening the Nation's mental health infrastructure, improving the understanding of violence, strengthening firearm prohibitions and protections for at-risk individuals, and improving and expanding the reporting of mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Mental Health and Safe Communities Act of 2015
Sponsor: Sen. John Cornyn Cosponsors: 0
A bill to strengthen our mental health system and improve public safety.
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill does not imply POPVOX endorsement in any way. As always, our goal is to offer one more way to help you stay informed about the complex U.S. legislative system.
