[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
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

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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 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.
BARACK OBAMA