May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I would like to use this opportunity to bring attention to the fact that each year more than 36,000 Americans die by suicide. Many of these deaths could be prevented by treating the underlying depression, bipolar illness, alcohol and substance abuse and other mental disorders that contribute to suicide.

It is vital that we provide equitable health coverage for these illnesses, without which we increase the risk for suicide.

Unfortunately, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (2008), which would ensure large group health insurance plans and Medicaid plans provide coverage for mental or substance-use disorders on par with coverage offered for physical ailments, waits for the Obama Administration to implement final regulations that would make its benefits a reality.

As a volunteer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and as part of Mental Health Awareness Month, I hope you will join me in urging the President to issue the final rule for this law.