I think, obviously, when you look at the fact that so many of our jails are filled with people with mental illnesses and addictions, that clearly a better response than occupying police time would be to make sure that proper first responder teams are in place who are mental health first aid responders and of the like.
Kennedy emphasizes the need for mental health responders instead of police for mental health crises.
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More from Patrick J. Kennedy
If this were any other issue we would move heaven and Earth to deal with it. In COVID we responded right away, everybody inoculation, everybody out there. The longest impact of COVID is going to be mental health, and yet, we don't treat it.
I want to thank the Biden Administration. They’ve put teeth into the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
We wouldn't expect any less if there were any other illness. And yet we settled for less than 20 percent of Americans getting any of that today in this country.