[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 25649-25650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10453]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 87 / Tuesday, May 6, 2014 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 25649]]


                Proclamation 9112 of April 30, 2014

                
National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2014

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Despite great strides in our understanding of mental 
                illness and vast improvements in the dialogue 
                surrounding it, too many still suffer in silence. Tens 
                of millions of Americans face mental health conditions 
                like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, 
                schizophrenia, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 
                During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we 
                reaffirm our commitment to building our understanding 
                of mental illness, increasing access to treatment, and 
                ensuring those who are struggling to know they are not 
                alone.

                Over the course of a year, one in five adults will 
                experience a mental illness, yet less than half will 
                receive treatment. Because this is unacceptable, my 
                Administration is fighting to make mental health care 
                more accessible than ever. Through the Affordable Care 
                Act (ACA), we are extending mental health and substance 
                use disorder benefits and parity protections to over 60 
                million Americans. Because of the ACA, insurers can no 
                longer deny coverage or charge patients more due to 
                pre-existing health conditions, including mental 
                illness. The ACA also requires health plans to cover 
                recommended preventive services like depression 
                screening and behavioral assessments at no out-of-
                pocket cost. And under this law, we are expanding 
                services for mental health and substance use disorder 
                at community health centers across the country.

                My Administration is also investing in programs that 
                promote mental health among young people. We secured 
                new funding to train teachers to identify and respond 
                to mental illness and to train thousands of additional 
                mental health professionals to serve students. And 
                because it is our sacred obligation to give our 
                veterans the support they have earned, we have 
                increased the number of Department of Veterans Affairs 
                (VA) mental health providers, enhanced VA partnerships 
                with community providers, and improved Government 
                coordination on research efforts.

                We too often think about mental health differently from 
                other forms of health. Yet like any disease, mental 
                illnesses can be treated--and without help, they can 
                grow worse. That is why we must build an open dialogue 
                that encourages support and respect for those 
                struggling with mental illness. To learn how you can 
                get involved, visit www.MentalHealth.gov. Those seeking 
                immediate help should call 1-800-662-HELP. The National 
                Suicide Prevention Lifeline also offers immediate 
                assistance for all Americans, including service members 
                and veterans, at 1-800-273-TALK.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 2014 as National 
                Mental Health Awareness Month. I call upon citizens, 
                government agencies, organizations, health care 
                providers, and research institutions to raise mental 
                health awareness and continue helping Americans live 
                longer, healthier lives.

[[Page 25650]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2014-10453
Filed 5-5-14; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F4