Mental Health
![Mental health is a critical issue that too often goes ignored. Mental health is a critical issue that too often goes ignored.](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222052202im_/https://napolitano.house.gov/sites/napolitano.house.gov/files/styles/congress_featured_image/public/featured_image/issues/iStock-610262070.jpg?itok=mBiz4Eos)
Congresswoman Napolitano is the founder and Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, where she promotes access to mental health for children and adolescents, improved mental health resources for veterans and seniors, and increased mental health coverage for all. After learning one in three Latina adolescents (ages 9-11) had contemplated suicide, in 2001 she secured federal funding to create a pilot program to provide on-site, culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services and suicide prevention services for students. With assistance from LA County Mental Health, her successful program, which began in four schools has now expanded to 26 schools throughout the San Gabriel Valley and Southeast LA County. It now serves as a model for H.R. 2913, the Mental Health in Schools Act. Napolitano also works closely with the 32nd District Mental Health Consortium, a dedicated group of local mental health professionals and advocates who advise the Congresswoman on public mental health policy and related issues.
Napolitano has been very active in securing mental health parity in the Affordable Care Act, promoting mental health legislation, and working with prominent figures to increase funding and access to mental health services. After the tragic Newtown shooting, in 2013 Napolitano was appointed to serve as vice-chair of the House Democratic Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to ensure mental health remained a critical part of the conversation on gun violence prevention.
Napolitano remains committed to continuing to reduce the harmful stigma related to mental illness and educating public officials, communities, and families on warning signs and symptoms and that it is ok to seek help.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
More on Mental Health
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) issued the following statement on last night’s mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, CA:
(WASHINGTON, DC) This week Reps. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32), John Katko (R-NY-24), and Don Beyer (D-VA-08) introduced H.Res. 1067 to recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
(WASHINGTON, DC) Reps. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32) and John Katko (R-NY-24) recently introduced H.R. 6597, the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation to address a critical shortage in the number of mental healthcare professionals currently available in many parts of the country.
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s continued trauma-inflicting policy of forcibly separating immigrant children from their parents at the border:
(WASHINGTON, DC) This week, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) received awards from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance)/American Association of Suicidology (AAS), for her leadership in mental health and suicide prevention.
(WASHINGTON, DC) Yesterday, the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, led by Co-Chairs Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32) and John Katko (R-NY-24), in conjunction with leading mental health organizations, held a bipartisan briefing on childhood depression and the importance of identifying and treating problems early in life.
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) released the following statement on the six-month anniversary of when Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico:
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32) released the following statement on the 5-year remembrance of the mass shooting which occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT:
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it will end Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA):
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32) released the following statement recognizing World Mental Health Day: