If you know my story, you know that World Mental Health Day is near and dear to my heart. I’ve seen firsthand how barriers to mental health services have ravaged a countless number of families in Colorado and across the country.

That’s why, within my first month in Congress, I joined the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force — a bipartisan group of House members working to pass legislation to address addiction and mental health problems.

I’m proud to bring my personal experiences to the table every day as Congress works to address this public health crisis, because this issue is personal to me.

My mom suffered from addiction for decades after an overprescription of opioids following a back injury. Because she was able to access the help that she desperately needed, she’s been in recovery for over seven years — and serves as an example of what’s possible when we invest in mental health and addiction treatment.

But too many American families don’t have access to the support and resources they deserve. That’s why I’ve worked tirelessly in Congress, and in the Colorado State Legislature beforehand, to ensure that every family has access to care and resources that will make a positive difference in their lives.

In the state legislature, I passed legislation to ensure every child in Colorado has access to free counseling services and support to help stem the suicide epidemic. And in Congress, I’ve introduced bipartisan bills to increase access to lifesaving medications like naloxone and enable Medicaid beneficiaries to access substance use disorder treatments.

Unlike a lot of my colleagues in Washington, I understand the struggles that so many families are facing right now. That’s why I want you to know that I’ll never stop advocating for the millions of American families who are facing the impacts of addiction or mental health.

I know that recovery is possible — and that’s why I’ve proudly worked every day to deliver support and compassionate care to millions of Americans across the country.

On this World Mental Health Day, I’m proud to recommit myself to the fight to confront the mental health and addiction crisis in our country and deliver resources to the families that need it most. And I will continue to serve as a fierce advocate for mental health and addiction treatment in the halls of Congress for as long as I have the privilege of serving as your Congresswoman.

Thank you for reading, and for supporting my fight.

Brittany