Murray should get Mental Health Reform to Senate floor

Please, Sen. Murray, let’s get Mental Health Reform (S. 2680) to the Senate floor. Imagine your child has an illness that is the third-leading cause of chronic illness in adolescents. Now imagine that your child’s doctor doesn’t recognize the early signs of this illness due to inadequate training. This is the reality in many communities throughout Washington and across the country, due to insufficient health professional training in eating disorders.

Simple lack of knowledge can lead to a life or death situation. The Senate Mental Health Reform bill (S. 2680) can change that, as it includes a provision to increase access to training programs in early identification of eating disorders. With more training, doctors can recognize these illnesses early and optimize recovery for children and families.

The House passed a companion Mental Health Reform bill (HR 2646) in July with an almost unanimous vote of 422-2, and the Senate HELP Committee unanimously passed the Mental Health Reform Act (S. 2680) in March. We are merely waiting for the Senate to take a vote and pass mental health reform. We ask Sen. Murray to act now to urge the passage mental health reform this year.

Krista Kubiak Crotty, Psy. D.

Spokane