Capitol and Community Updates - Michigan House Democrats

Dear Neighbor,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, we should reflect on our own mental wellbeing and learn more about how to identify signs that our loved ones are struggling with their mental health. For Mental Health Awareness Month, I will be introducing four mental health-oriented legislation. Make sure you follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the legislation I am working on. Below is a brief insight into what I will be introducing this month along with some mental health stats and contact information if you or a loved one needs help.

Mental Health Facts and Contacts *These stats come from Mental Health America*

Suicide and Crisis 24/7 Lifeline – Text or call 988

National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline – Call 1 (800) 950-NAMI(6264), or text NAMI to 62640

About 1 in 5 adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.

46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses. Approximately 42.5 million adults struggle with anxiety.

46.5 million adults struggle with substance use disorder. 18.1% of US adults struggled with a substance use disorder in the past year.

22.5 million adults and 4.8 million youth (ages 12-17) struggle with major depression.

54.7% of adults with mental illness do not receive any treatment.

Mental Health Legislation

I will be introducing four different mental health-oriented bills in May. Below is a brief description of each. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to receive regular updates on these bills.

Fair Standards in Mental Health Care – This bill would require insurance companies to follow best-practice clinical standards when making mental health coverage decisions. With this bill, insurance companies will be required to adhere to the same clinical standards that doctors use when making decisions on your mental health.

Collaborative Care Model – This bill would improve access to quality mental health care by expanding billing codes for mental health professionals. This means that your local primary care physician’s office will be able to hire a mental health professional to work with you on your mental health, in-office, without a referral, while your primary care physician will continue to work with you on your physical health.

Psilocybin Decriminalization for PTSD – This bill would decriminalize psilocybin possession for those with a PTSD diagnosis. The US Department of Veterans Affairs and various other veteran organizations have promising research for using psilocybin to treat PTSD in veterans. This bill will allow people with an official PTSD diagnosis to possess their medicine without fear of breaking the law.

Limit Opioid Prescriptions – This bill would require insurance companies to develop a plan to provide adequate coverage and access to a broad spectrum of pain management services as an alternative to prescribing opioids or narcotic drugs. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has research that shows non-opioid therapies are at least as effective as opioids for acute, subacute, and chronic pain. When alternatives to opioids are available and just as effective for pain management, insurance companies and doctors should be looking at non-opioid treatment options.

Community Events and Opportunities

I am hosting a community conversation on May 17 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Center Line Public Library, 7345 Weingartz St. in Center Line. Join me to receive an update on what is going on in Lansing and ask questions as I address concerns the community may have. I hope to see you there!

Below are some links and details for finding events in your area. Click on your community’s event calendar link to find events occurring in your neighborhood.

	City Calendar	Library Calendar	Parks & Recreation Info
Center Line	Center Line Event Calendar	Center Line Library Calendar	Center Line Parks & Recreation Info
Hazel Park	Hazel Park Event Calendar		Hazel Park Parks & Recreation Info
Madison Heights	Madison Heights Event Calendar	Madison Heights Library Calendar	Madison Heights Parks & Recreation Info
Warren	Madison Heights Parks & Recreation Calendar	Warren Library Calendar	Warren Parks & Recreation Info
Oakland County	Oakland County Event Calendar	Oakland County Library Info	Oakland County Parks & Recreation Info
Macomb County	Macomb County Event Calendar		Macomb County Parks & Recreation Info