Guinta, Kuster Host Mental Health Summit Monday

This Monday, U.S. Reps. Frank Guinta, R-NH, and Ann McLane Kuster, D-NH, will host a mental health summit to announce draft legislation the two Representatives are planning to introduce together in order to improve mental health care across the country, according to a press statement.

The summit will convene advocates and experts to discuss the draft legislation and other initiatives to improve the mental health system in New Hampshire. Following welcoming remarks by Kuster and Guinta, three discussion panels on Co-occurring Disorders, Barriers to Care, and Mental Health and the Justice System will take place. During the summit, Congressman Guinta and Congresswoman Kuster will hear from advocates, health providers, and state law makers about the challenges facing Granite Staters with mental illness, the current support system and treatment options, and plans to improve services and research in the future.

The draft legislation being discussed during the summit looks to address several aspects of mental health services and treatment, including the formation of a Mental Health Coordination Committee to establish a national strategy for the treatment of mental illness, the expansion of current demonstration projects for Federally Qualified Community Health centers, and increased investment in research for the prevention and treatment of mental illness disorders. The Representatives will use the feedback they hear at the summit to revise and improve their proposal before introducing the joint legislation at a later date.

Monday’s summit will give advocates and providers a chance to share their expertise, suggestions, and concerns with Congressman Guinta and Congresswoman Kuster on how Congress can better support the mental health community. Guinta and Kuster will be joined at Monday’s summit by NH DHHS Commissioner Nick Toumpas, NH Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau, and NAMI NH Executive Director Ken Norton, as well as representatives from the health care, law enforcement, mental health, substance abuse, and corrections communities.

This event is open to the press; anyone interested in attending must RSVP todanielle.adams@mail.house.gov

WHO: Congressman Frank Guinta

Congresswoman Annie Kuster

Nick Toumpas, Commissioner, NH Department of Health and Humans Services

Tina Nadeau, Chief Justice, NH Superior Court

Bill Ryder, CEO and President, Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester

Jay Couture, Executive Director, Seacoast Mental Health Center

Ken Norton, Executive Director; NAMI NH

Tym Rourke, Director of Substance Use Disorders, NH Charitable Foundation

Maggie Pritchard, Executive Director, Genesis Behavioral Health

Jim Woodward, CEO, Elliot Health Systems

Bob MacLeod, CEO, New Hampshire Hospital

Peter Evers, CEO and Executive Director, Riverbend Community Mental Health

David Goldstein, Chief, Franklin Police Department

Ronald White, Superintendent, Merrimack County Corrections

Helen Hanks, Assistant Commissioner, NH Department of Corrections

WHAT: Guinta and Kuster to share draft legislation and hear from advocates during mental health summit

WHEN: Monday, May 11th at 9:00 AM

WHERE: UNH School of Law, 2 White Street, Concord, NH