[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9433 of April 28, 2016

National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Nearly 44 million American adults, and millions of children, experience
mental health conditions each year, including depression, anxiety,
bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress. Although we
have made progress expanding mental health coverage and elevating the
conversation about mental health, too many people still do not get the
help they need. Our Nation is founded on the belief that we must look
out for one another--and whether it affects our family members, friends,
co-workers, or those unknown to us--we do a service for each other when
we reach out and help those struggling with mental health issues. This
month, we renew our commitment to rid

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ding our society of the stigma associated with mental illness, encourage
those living with mental health conditions to get the help they need,
and reaffirm our pledge to ensure those who need help have access to the
support, acceptance, and resources they deserve.
In the last 7 years, our country has made extraordinary progress in
expanding mental health coverage for more people across America. The
Affordable Care Act prohibits insurance companies from discriminating
against people based on pre-existing conditions, requires coverage of
mental health and substance use disorder services in individual and
small group markets, and expands mental health and substance use
disorder parity policies, which are estimated to help more than 60
million Americans. Nearly 15 million more Americans have gained Medicaid
coverage since October 2013, significantly improving access to mental
health care. And because of more than $100 million in funding from the
Affordable Care Act, community health centers have expanded behavioral
health services for nearly 900,000 people nationwide over the past 2
years. Still, far too few Americans experiencing mental illnesses do not
receive the care and treatment they need. That is why my most recent
Budget proposal includes a new half-billion dollar investment to improve
access to mental health care, engage individuals with serious mental
illness in care, and help ensure behavioral health care systems work for
everyone.
Our Nation has made strong advances in improving prevention, increasing
early intervention, and expanding treatment of mental illnesses. Earlier
this year, I established a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
Parity Task Force, which aims to ensure that coverage for mental health
benefits is comparable to coverage for medical and surgical care,
improve understanding of the requirements of the law, and expand
compliance with it. Mental health should be treated as part of a
person's overall health, and we must ensure individuals living with
mental health conditions can get the treatment they need. My
Administration also continues to invest in science and research through
the BRAIN initiative to enhance our understanding of the complexities of
the human brain and to make it easier to diagnose and treat mental
health disorders early.
One of our most profound obligations as a Nation is to support the men
and women in uniform who return home and continue fighting battles
against mental illness. Last year, I signed the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which
fills critical gaps in serving veterans with post-traumatic stress and
other illnesses, increases peer support and outreach, and recruits more
talented individuals to work on mental health issues at the Department
of Veterans Affairs. This law will make it easier for veterans to get
the care they need when they need it. All Americans, including service
members, can get immediate assistance by calling the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or by calling 1-800-662-HELP.
During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize those
Americans who live with mental illness and substance use disorders, and
we pledge solidarity with their families who need our support as well.
Let us strive to ensure people living with mental health conditions know
that they are not alone, that hope exists, and that the possibility of
healing and thriving is real. Together, we can help everyone get the
support they need to recover as they continue along the journey to get
well.

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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 2016 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 twenty-eighth day
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA