[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 166 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MENTAL HEALTH REFORM

  (Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, another preventable tragedy: 
a young man searching for psychiatric help is turned away. According to 
news reports, just 24 hours before this deadly incident, the young man 
underwent an emergency psychiatric evaluation but could not get the 
inpatient treatment he so desperately needed. His story ended like too 
many others suffering from serious illness--in a violent death.
  Why did the system fail him? One, there were no psychiatric beds 
available. In 1955, there were 550,000 beds; today, there are fewer 
than 40,000. Two, the standard to make sure a mentally ill person gets 
treatment is unworkable. Three, Federal laws like HIPAA and FERPA 
prevent information from being shared.
  I am introducing legislation next month to fix the problems that have 
plagued the Nation's mental health system for decades. It will increase 
inpatient options and make sure people get the treatment they need. We 
have to advance this so we have a key to unlock the door.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in working for these mental health 
reforms so that families can share the joy of recovery instead of the 
sadness of loss.

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