Greetings!
There’s a great deal of exciting news concerning youth mental health this month – beginning with an announcement just this morning from the White House. Read more below.
Here’s what I’ve been working on:
Advising NGA Chairman Governor Phil Murphy’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health
On July 15, at the National Governors Association’s annual summer convening in Maine, I had the honor of joining New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy, Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet of Merck for Mothers, and Heidi Baskfield of Children’s Hospital Colorado for a closing plenary session to formally kick off Governor Murphy’s new initiative as Incoming Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA): “Strengthening Youth Mental Health". You can watch our full discussion here. Following our conversations on how to maximize benefits for young people nationwide, Governor Murphy included Prevention and Resilience Building, Increasing Awareness and Reducing Stigma, Access and Affordability of Quality Treatment and Care, and Caregiver and Education Training and Support as pillars in the initiative—which aligns with a comprehensive policy framework developed by The Kennedy Forum’s extensive advocacy.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis
Today, the Biden-Harris administration released a fact sheet which includes a strategy encouraging governors to invest more in school-based mental health. Following NGA’s focus on strengthening youth mental health, this emphasis from the highest levels of government could not be coming at a more opportune time. I’m grateful to the administration’s willingness to address this public health emergency, and funding allocation to make a sustainable difference. Provisions in their fact sheet bolster policy items which The Kennedy Forum has continuously advocated for, including community partnerships, workforce expansion, and taking advantage of further opportunities to deliver care, including telehealth.
Back to School & Eating Disorders Webinar with Equip
On August 2 at 2pm EST, you can tune into my discussion with Equip Health’s experts on supporting our young people’s mental health prior to the start of a new academic year. We’ll be covering eating disorder warning signs and how we can all work together to create a safer space for our youth. Our full discussion will be available to view here.
988 Lifeline Launched Nationwide
A lifeline accessible by dialing 988 has been launched nationwide. Through this line, which has long been endorsed and fought for by The Kennedy Forum, callers are linked to trained and compassionate mental health professionals who can provide assistance to anyone experiencing mental or emotional distress. Much like 911, 988 provides a critical lifeline for those most in need. Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris administration also includes a $150 million investment to support 988’s implementation; in other words, we’ll have further opportunities to grow 988’s outreach and efficacy in coming months.
Ken Burns’ Documentary Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness
If you missed the premiere of Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness last month, you can now watch the film on PBS. As a documentary which directly follows the struggles and experiences of our nation’s young people contending with the youth mental health crisis, it’s an invaluable watch, detailing why we must work toward fostering real change.
Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Bebe Moore Campbell, July is nationally recognized as BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. I’m inspired by Campbell's words: “We need a national campaign to destigmatize mental illness, especially one targeted toward African Americans. The message must go on billboards and in radio and TV public service announcements. It must be preached from pulpits and discussed in community forums.
“It's not shameful to have a mental illness. Get treatment. Recovery is possible.”
Let’s continue to work to make that treatment, and subsequent recovery, unilaterally within reach.
All the best,
Amy Kennedy
Pronouns: She/Her
