Lawmakers call for more info on Biden Administration’s efforts to combat nation’s mental health crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on the Biden Administration to provide a congressional committee more information on what's being done to address the nation's mental health crisis.

In a letter sent today to Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the lawmakers expressed concern over increased levels of mental health issues that Americans throughout the country are reportedly experiencing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The mental health and well-being of Americans remains a top priority," the lawmakers wrote, "and we are concerned about the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on increased levels of distress, anxiety, and suicide-related behaviors."

In addition to DeGette, the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA).

The bipartisan group of lawmakers, all of whom serve as key leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, cited as a cause for concern data recently collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed an alarming increase in the prevalence of negative mental health conditions among Americans from 2019 to 2020. They also pointed to further studies that show certain groups – including children and people of color – were experiencing disproportionately greater increases in negative mental health conditions as a result of the pandemic.

"Data from June 2020 found that the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety was approximately three times those reported in the second quarter of 2019, and the prevalence of depression was approximately four times that reported in the second quarter of 2019," the lawmakers wrote. "Additional studies and reports have emerged that show concerning trends with respect to our nation's mental health with some populations, including children and people of color, facing a disproportionate increase in mental health conditions."

A recent Government Accountability Office report found that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased social isolation and stress for many Americans, resulting in higher rates of anxiety and depression. As part of their effort to address a growing mental health crisis, the lawmakers requested that the head of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, provide the committee answers to a series of questions, including:

• What information and data has SAMHSA collected regarding changes in our nation's mental health in 2021, as compared to data collected in 2019 and 2020 – including changes in levels of anxiety, depression, suicide attempts, emergency department visits for mental health needs, and suicide?
• What, if any, associated events are contributing to the changing mental health symptoms and conditions in Americans – including the death of a parent, caregiver, or other loved one due to COVID-19; and the impact, if any, that school closures have had on students' and teachers' mental health?
• What, if any, involvement has SAMHSA had in the development and implementation of the nation's COVID-19 pandemic response?
• Is SAMHSA conducting, collaborating, o funding any studies or analysis regarding long COVID, particularly in individuals who have reported post-COVID mental health needs?
• What tools and resources are SAMHSA providing, or coordinating with other agencies to provide, to our frontline health workers who have experienced increased levels of stress and trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What tools and resources are SAMHSA providing to support the needs of Americans experiencing mental health challenges as the nation continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic?

In addition to the questions above, the lawmakers also asked that the administration provide them a list of all COVID-19 relief funding that SAMHSA has awarded to date, including when it was awarded, who it was awarded to, and the purpose for the funding.

Read the full letter here.