[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 25891-25892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10896]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 25891]]


                Proclamation 9267 of April 30, 2015

                
National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2015

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                This year, approximately one in five American adults--
                our friends, colleagues, and loved ones--will 
                experience a diagnosable mental health condition like 
                depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, 
                or post-traumatic stress, and many others will be 
                troubled by significant emotional and psychological 
                distress, especially in times of difficulty. For most 
                of these people, treatment can be effective and 
                recovery is possible. Yet today, millions of Americans 
                still do not receive the care they need. This month, we 
                stand with those who live with mental illness, and we 
                recommit to ensuring all Americans have access to 
                quality, affordable care.

                In the past decade, our Nation has made extraordinary 
                progress in recognizing severe psychological distress 
                and diagnosing and treating mental illness, and my 
                Administration is committed to building on that 
                success. The Affordable Care Act extends mental health 
                and substance use disorder benefits and parity 
                protections to over 60 million Americans. Protections 
                under the law also prohibit insurers from denying 
                coverage because of pre-existing conditions like a 
                diagnosis of mental illness and require most insurance 
                plans to cover recommended preventive services without 
                copays, including behavioral assessments for children 
                and depression screenings. As part of the BRAIN 
                Initiative, we are funding innovative research that 
                aims to revolutionize our understanding of conditions 
                that affect the brain, such as mental health disorders, 
                and to improve the lives of all who live with them. And 
                we continue to invest in community health centers, 
                enabling them to expand access to mental health 
                services where they are needed most.

                As Americans, we have a sacred obligation to provide 
                those who suffer from the invisible wounds of war with 
                the support they have earned. Earlier this year, I was 
                proud to sign the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which authorized 
                additional steps to address mental health and prevent 
                suicide among veterans. This law will build on my 
                Administration's ongoing work to bolster mental health 
                services for service members, veterans, and their 
                families. We recently established a new policy that 
                will ensure the continuity of mental health medications 
                during service members' transitions to care at the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and we took action 
                to make certain those receiving mental health care are 
                connected to mental health professionals as they 
                transition to the VA or a community provider. My 
                Administration has also worked to increase the number 
                of counselors available to our veterans and to expand 
                the capacity of the Veterans Crisis Line.

                Despite how common it is to experience severe 
                psychological distress, substance use problems, and 
                mental illness, there is still considerable stigma 
                associated with mental health treatment. This month, we 
                must bring mental illness out of the shadows and 
                encourage treatment for those who might benefit; it is 
                our shared responsibility to recognize the signs of 
                psychological and emotional distress and to support 
                those in need. We must strive to remove the stigma 
                around mental illness and its treatment, overcome fear 
                and misunderstanding, and make sure all those dealing 
                with a mental health issue know they are not alone. 
                Asking for help is not a sign of weakness--taking 
                action to help yourself is a sign of strength. If you 
                or someone

[[Page 25892]]

                you know is in need of immediate assistance, 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 2015 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.

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

[FR Doc. 2015-10896
Filed 5-4-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5