May 20, 2023
Dear Friends,
During my tenure in the New York State Assembly, I had the privilege of meeting Timothy O’Clair, a vibrant and energetic young boy who unfortunately also suffered from a debilitating mental illness. When Timothy’s insurance would no longer cover his treatment, Timothy’s loving and dedicated parents struggled to find the resources he needed. Unable to receive the appropriate care, Timothy tragically lost his life to suicide at the age of just 12.
Timothy’s heartbreaking story inspired me to work tirelessly to pass Timothy’s Law, a first-of-its-kind state law that required insurance plans to cover treatment for mental health conditions at the same level as physical healthcare. Ever since then, I’ve been committed to advancing efforts to address our nation’s mental health crisis—both in the halls of Congress and in our communities.
In recent years, I’ve been proud to lead the way on bipartisan legislation to ensure that those suffering from mental health and substance use disorders can access the care they need. My Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, signed into law by President Biden in December following years of hard work and advocacy, removes outdated barriers that prevented healthcare providers from prescribing proven treatments like buprenorphine to patients suffering from opioid use disorders. And earlier this year, I reintroduced the bipartisan Reentry Act, legislation that empowers states to restore access to healthcare through Medicaid, including mental health treatment, for incarcerated individuals up to 30 days prior to their release. These are sound, common-sense policies that will save lives by ensuring access to critical care and easing transitions back into the community for some of our most vulnerable citizens.
But there is still more work to do. In 2022 alone, more than 3 million Americans were directly impacted by a natural disaster. These disasters take lives and livelihoods—and the effects of these crises run deep. Studies show that events like these can traumatize upwards of 40 percent of those living in the affected area—devastating communities long after the severe weather subsides. That’s why this month, I joined my colleague Brian Fitzpatrick to mark Mental Health Awareness Month with the introduction of the Community Mental Wellness & Resilience Act, a bipartisan bill that will combat our nation’s mental health crisis head-on by addressing the extensive community trauma caused by natural disasters.
With climate change causing increasingly severe storms and other extreme weather events, this legislation takes an innovative approach to enable communities to craft their own locally specific responses. By establishing a new grant program to support community-based initiatives that address mental health issues stemming from major traumatic events, this legislation will help boost our resilience to climate change while empowering our communities with resources tailored to meet their needs.
Even as I work to find solutions at the federal level, I’m also leading efforts to bolster mental health services right here in our Capital Region. This month, I was thrilled to celebrate the awarding of $936,414, part of a grant that will total more than $4.8 million over the next five years, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to mental health researchers at the University at Albany. This funding will help UAlbany advance best practices for providing screenings, brief interventions, and referrals to treatment to prevent and address gambling among college students, an increasing cause of depression and despair among our nation’s young people and a pivotal reason why I introduced the Betting on our Future Act.
And through this year’s Community Project Funding process, I’m working to bring home federal funding for programs that provide support for those experiencing mental health disorders, including the Harbor House Supportive Housing project from the YWCA of Northeastern New York. This project would fund the construction of 54 permanent, low-income housing units for women, including those with serious mental illnesses. Through these efforts and more, I’m working to make certain that our Capital Region leads the way in providing mental health support to those who need it most.
In order to tackle our nation’s crisis of mental health, we need a multifaceted approach. We need federal action that improves access to mental health treatment. We need to find innovative solutions that address new and growing drivers of mental illness, and we need to provide funding for programs doing the hard work on the ground in our communities. I’m confident that with a comprehensive, bipartisan effort, we can make a real difference in the lives of millions of Americans.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- As part of continuing efforts to increase access to mental health and substance use resources, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched FindSupport.gov!
- FindSupport.gov is a new website designed for the general public to help people identify available resources, explore treatment options, and learn how to reach out to get the support they need for issues related to mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
- This user-friendly guide navigates people through common questions at the start of their journey of recovery, such as how to ask for help, how to help others, and how to find a healthcare professional or support program that meets their needs.
- You can view an instructional video on how to use the website HERE.
- Click HERE to explore this valuable new resource!
