It's Mental Health Month and while people are just now understanding the importance of selfcare, access to that care can still feel overwhelming.

U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Tina Smith have introduced a bill that would establish a U.S. senate commission on mental health to help those struggling to deal with these issues.

Called the United States Senate Commission on Mental Health Act of 2024, the goal would be to provide congress and the president independent policy recommendations by experts to improve access and affordability of mental health care services, according to a news release from Fetterman's office.

"Before I sought help for my depression, I was the biggest cynic, but it truly worked," Fetterman said. "Mental health challenges impact people all across Pennsylvania and the country - from our reddest to our bluest, from our biggest cities to our smallest towns."

Some of the topics the commission would study include:

  • Coverage of mental health care services, including mental health parity requirements under federal health plans.
  • Reimbursement rates for mental health care services with regard to mental health care providers.
  • Workforce challenges, including barriers to entering this field and challenges faced by mental health care providers. This includes factors that contribute to burnout.

The commission would submit an annual report based on studies carried out that year to various governing bodies including Congress and the Secretary of Health. It would include a detailed analysis of its findings and recommended policy changes to address issues detailed in the report, according to Fetterman's office.

In 2021, about 21 million adults have experienced at least one major depressive episode, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 experienced these episodes the most with 18.6% saying they've had one. This is followed by people between the ages of 26 and 49 at 9.3% and people 50 plus at 4.5%.

Females are the largest group impacted at 10.3%, according to NIMH.

"To address our nation's mental health crisis, we will need collaboration and leadership from Congress, federal policymakers, and key stakeholders," said Hannah Wesolowski, the chief advocacy officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which has endorsed this legislation.

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