U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to VOTE YES on the Mental Health Services for Students Act (H.R. 721). Votes on this issue may be included in NEA’s Report Card for the 117th Congress.
In particular, we are pleased that the bill would:
- Expand access to comprehensive on-site mental health care services for students and their communities
- Promote positive mental health education and support for parents, siblings, and other family members of children with mental health disorders, as well as concerned members of the community
- Provide comprehensive, culturally and linguistically appropriate services to support students in need of mental health care and those at-risk for behavioral mental health disorders
The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that as many as one in six U.S. children ages 6-17 has a treatable mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Yet nearly half the children with these disorders do not receive counseling or treatment from a mental health professional—a recipe for disaster in light of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our students, their families, and communities.
Every child deserves the chance for a healthy start in life, including treatment for mental illnesses that impact the ability to learn and succeed in school. We urge you to help make that happen by supporting the Mental Health Services for Students Act.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association