Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, recently, Roger Webb, of the University of Manchester, conducted a study which found that when parents have psychiatric illnesses or have attempted suicide, their children are at increased risk for attempting suicide themselves. Our healthcare system for families with genetic histories of other biological diseases should be no different from those of psychiatric diseases. We must intervene early before the mental health crisis starts. But, unfortunately, in the United States, with too few psychiatric beds, a shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists, and 112 Federal agencies that are a disjointed mess, no, we are not there yet. But the House passed the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act in July to make a difference in this. We now call upon the Senate to make a difference as well. They need to make sure they pass this bill and don't pass up the opportunity to save lives. So far, since September 1, 7,672 lives have been lost related to mental illness; and since the House-passed bill, 61,000. We have to understand we must have treatment before these tragedies and provide help before hope. I hope the Senate passes H.R. 2646 before they leave in September. ____________________”