Underwood-Backed Legislation to Strengthen Mental Health and Substance Use Care Passes the House

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) voted to pass a bipartisan legislative package strengthening access to care for Americans grappling with mental illness and substance use disorders. The package included legislation Underwood co-led, the Continuing Systems of Care for Children Act, which would fund community-based mental health care programs and expand initiatives to provide support to young people at risk for substance use disorders. The package addresses the country’s critical need for additional mental health investments; more than 50% of adults in America will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder at some point in their lifetime. 

“Access to mental and behavioral health services has never been more important,” said Underwood. “I voted to pass legislation to help remove barriers to care, strengthen health services, and invest in our mental health workforce. This legislation I co-led would make critical investments to ensure kids and their families can access the mental health care and support they need.”  

A majority of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 10 and 34. Additionally, more than 2 million Americans suffer from an opioid use disorder, and nearly 108,000 Americans died due to a drug overdose last year. Despite this urgent need for care, approximately 122 million Americans live in areas experiencing a shortage of qualified mental health professionals. Even among individuals with health insurance, coverage limitations and financial barriers continue to increase costs and delay care. 

The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act takes several steps to connect Americans to urgently needed health services. It would: 

• Strengthen Crisis Resources, including suicide prevention, mental health support, substance use disorder services, recovery housing and other services. 
• Address America’s Opioid Epidemic by increasing access to life-saving treatments and strengthening training requirements for practitioners who prescribe controlled substances. 
• Invest in the Behavioral Health Workforce through additional training grants and state funding. 
• Support Young People’s Mental Health by strengthening pediatric mental health care, Medicaid behavioral health services, and suicide prevention resources for college students. 

Underwood has long been an advocate for youth mental health measures. In April, she and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy led a discussion at her alma mater with students on youth mental health. Underwood also led a bipartisan effort to address the worsening youth mental health crisis by securing a nearly 700% increase in funding for two grant programs at the Department of Education as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 federal spending package.  

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