Two years ago tomorrow, we announced the launch of a new mental health advocacy organization called Inseparable. We had a simple but mighty vision: an America where mental health was no longer an afterthought and helps our country to heal and thrive.
As you can imagine, launching a new mental health organization in the midst of a global pandemic that has magnified and exacerbated our country’s ongoing mental health crisis has been busy, challenging, and powerful.
We know this is bigger than us, or what any individual state can do. Congress has not acted on this devastating crisis that millions of Americans are facing nationwide. We still lack affordable mental health care, mental health resources in schools, and a crisis response system that treats people humanely. Our advocacy is crucial, but we need Congress to act.
Advocacy and coalition-building do bring results, Peter.
Over the last two years, Inseparable has led campaigns across the country to expand mental health access. From California across to Delaware and Illinois down to Alabama, we’ve worked with elected leaders to pass meaningful laws to expand school-based mental health services and access to insurance. This means more mental health providers will be in our schools. This means there are clear definitions and standards for when services and treatment qualify as medically necessary. This means more people have access to care. These changes are able to help millions of people who need mental health resources.
We’ve also been able to support more mental health champions in federal government. Through organizing sign-on letters of support, petitions, and social media campaigns from people just like YOU, we’ve seen the confirmations of Dr. Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General and Marty Walsh as Secretary of Labor — strong mental health advocates dedicated to helping those in need.
These achievements are fundamental in pushing for changes in mental health policy and finally relieving our mental health crisis — but we have yet to see enough action from Congress to support the millions of children and adults who are facing mental health issues around the country.
It’s okay to not be okay. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they text HOME to 741741.
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