Resolution to Treat Mental Health Equally to Physical Health Introduced by Rep. Shri Thanedar

May 22 :
In an effort to combat the tragically high rates of suicide and drug overdoses in the United States, Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has sponsored a resolution that will equally prioritise physical and mental health policies. To emphasise that mental health disorders demand the same amount of care as physical health conditions, Rep. Thanedar spearheaded this critical resolution.

Regarding mental health, I feel quite strongly about the subject. Unfortunately, my first wife's mental health issues took her life in 1996. According to Rep. Thanedar, "it was a dark time that brought unimaginable pain and a sense of helplessness that words barely convey." A major turning point in my life came with her demise. It made me realise that battles with mental health are sometimes unnoticed and silent. Both the value of empathy and the necessity of universal access to mental health care were emphasised to me.

Former co-sponsors Reps. Darren Soto and Sheila Jackson Lee have voiced their support for the resolution, describing it as a "crucial" piece of legislation.

Speaking on the pressing issues of drug overdoses and suicide, Congressman Soto expressed his pride in endorsing a resolution that would prioritise mental health on par with physical health. He emphasised the need to respond to these twin epidemics with the understanding and compassion that they deserve. "Allowing no one to confront these obstacles in solitude and guaranteeing that every person can obtain the medical attention they require to flourish, we can build a stronger, more inclusive America together." The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) similarly backs the resolution. "It is shocking that nearly 50,000 people lost their lives to suicide in the United States in 2022," stated Laurel Stine, executive vice president and chief policy officer, AFSP.

The speaker thanked Thanedar, Jackson Lee, and Soto for "leading this important resolution," according to Stine. "It is with great pride that we support this resolution to build on the progress that Congress has made in the last decade regarding mental health and suicide prevention," Stine said in his end.