MHA's Blog: Chiming In

The Washington Post recently ran a story on Sean Duvalol, a homeless Gulf War veteran who called a suicide hotline. He was carrying a note to his family and a homemade gun. The counselor told him to stay put and that help was on the way. Police arrived and took Duvall, who was homeless and unemployed at the time of the incident in June 2011, to a psychiatric facility. He is now being treated for depression and has a job an apartment.  However, he has been charged with four federal counts involving manufacturing and possessing a homemade gun that carry a 40-year prison sentence. Mental Health America last week sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney calling on him to dismiss the charges, which you can read here.

Read more...

An omnibus spending bill passed by Congress last week (H.R. 205)  includes increases for mental health and addiction services, as well as for biomedical research.

Read more...

In honor of Veterans Day (Friday, Nov. 11), let’s come together to pay tribute to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces; patriots who have risked their lives in service to their country and the families who support them.

Read more...

Mental Health America has joined with a number of organizations in expressing support for the Positive Aging Act, which will be introduced by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

Read more...

Improving Lives, Avoiding Tragedies

The recent tragedy in Arizona reminds us all of the importance of the early identification of mental illness and the critical need for intervention with effective services and supports. Serious mental illness impacts large numbers of our nation’s youth. Mental illness is treatable and the best outcomes occur with early identification and intervention. We can avoid the tragic and costly consequences of unidentified and untreated mental illness in youth by taking action. We can and should do far better for our nation’s youth.

Read more...