[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 84 (Monday, May 19, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, this month of May is a month that is 
devoted to what we call Mental Health Awareness Month.
  Every day, we know Americans cope with depression, anxiety, 
loneliness, and hopelessness without a support system to help alleviate 
the burden.
  To anyone who is struggling, you are not alone. The national Suicide 
& Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 9-8-8 
to offer free and confidential support.
  Through telehealth, people can connect with mental health 
professionals from the comfort of their home, breaking down barriers 
like distance and stigma.
  As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee in 2020, I played a key 
role in making access to mental telehealth a permanent benefit in 
Medicare. State Medicaid Programs and commercial insurance have 
likewise done the same. Today, two-thirds of telehealth is for mental 
health conditions.
  Last month, I introduced a bill with this title: ``Fighting Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder Act.'' It takes an essential step toward 
ensuring first responders have easy access to the mental health care 
they need and they deserve.
  I also recently sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services to ensure information about inpatient psychiatric 
facilities is clear and accessible to better support patients with 
serious mental illness in having access to high-quality, safe care. 
While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has web-based 
tools to find and compare healthcare providers, that Agency lacks the 
tools and key information for comparing the quality and safety of 
inpatient psychiatric facilities so that those patients can make 
informed decisions.
  I will continue to make sure that no one faces their struggles alone 
and that high-quality care is always within reach.
  I yield the floor.

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