Mental health is an issue that affects all age groups.  While there is still a stigma that surrounds the issue, this is something that has been improving over recent years.  However, it is imperative that awareness continues to grow and options for support and care expand, especially for our younger generations.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2019 (H.R. 1109) aims to expand mental health services for students by providing education for staff and providers regarding screening and recognition of mental health issues in students as well as forming relationships between health and human service providers and educational campuses.  Recognizing mental health issues early is crucial.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2015 43.4 million Americans were estimated to have a mental illness (9.8 million of these were considered "serious mental illnesses" meaning the person experienced serious functional impairment due to the illness). Half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14.  Serious mental illness costs the United States $193.2 billion per year in lost earnings, individuals in the U.S. with serious mental illness die 25 years earlier than others on average, and suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and second leading cause of death among those aged 15-34.  

The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2019 was introduced into the House of Representatives on February 8, 2019.  It was referred to a House committee but has had no movement since that date.  We are asking for support to encourage the House to bring H.R. 1109 to a vote.  We invite you to sign this petition to add your signature to our letter of encouragement.  We also urge you to write your own letters of support to your representatives.  Mental health matters and we owe it to our younger generations and to ourselves to bring the attention to this matter that it deserves!