Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a field hearing in Jefferson Parish on May 6 focused on improving treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. After the hearing, the Treatment Communities of America presented Cassidy with the Charlie Devlin Award for Excellence to recognize his efforts in advancing Americans’ mental health.
The topic is significant as mental illness affects many Americans. Cassidy said, “Everyone knows in their family or among their friends someone who is having an issue with serious mental illness.” He also stated, “I practiced medicine for 25 years in the Louisiana Charity Hospital system, and I don’t have to tell you that mental health and physical health is linked.”
During his opening remarks at the hearing, Cassidy emphasized that suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among teens and young adults. He pointed out that "1 in 5 adults experience mental illness. More than half of them do not get treatment." He added: "These aren’t just numbers; these are our children, parents, friends, neighbors, loved ones."
Cassidy highlighted recent legislative actions including President Trump’s signing into law of his SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act and HALT Fentanyl Act. The SUPPORT Act aims to bolster prevention, treatment and recovery services for those with substance use disorders or mental illness. The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently schedules fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under federal law.
The witnesses at the hearing included Arthur Kleinschmidt from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Lonnie Granier from Odyssey House Louisiana Inc.; Nick Richard from National Alliance on Mental Illness Southeast Louisiana; Stuart Archer from Oceans Healthcare; and Tonja R. Myles from Set Free Indeed Ministry.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee works to legislate on public health issues such as those discussed at this hearing while overseeing federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to the official website.
In closing remarks prepared for delivery at the event Cassidy said: “Let’s treat every wound—both visible and invisible wounds.”
