OPINION: When it comes to behavioral health, no one should have to go it alone

Recently, I was honored to take on a new leadership role in Congress that will help me further my mission of expanding access to mental and behavioral health care.

I am now proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus along with my colleagues Reps. Grace Napolitano (D-California) and Don Beyer (D-Virginia). For over 20 years, our caucus — which includes both Republicans and Democrats — has been working to raise awareness about mental health and enact sensible, bipartisan policies that will make mental health care more affordable and accessible. I am excited that Oregon will now have a more prominent voice when it comes to shaping mental health legislation.

At the same time, our mission has taken on a renewed importance in the face of a growing mental health and addiction crisis.

Drug overdoses and related fatalities have skyrocketed over the last few years with the rise of fentanyl and other synthetic opioid use. We also know that many of these individuals — about one in four — suffer from severe mental illness. However, mental health providers and facilities in our state simply do not have the staff or the resources to adequately confront these twin crises.

Ignoring the problem isn’t an option. And throwing taxpayer money at unproven “solutions” isn’t a good idea, either. What we need are data-driven policies that will actually address some of the root problems in our communities.

That’s why I introduced the Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery (PEER) Support Act with Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kansas). The PEER Support Act is based on an approach that has shown promising results for those struggling with substance use and other behavioral health problems.

My legislation makes it easier for people who have recovered from a substance abuse or mental health issue to become trained to provide support for others. These peer support specialists have already been down the road to recovery themselves, so they are uniquely equipped to help those who are struggling.

Research shows that peer-to-peer support services can significantly decrease rates of substance abuse and reduce re-hospitalization for individuals with mental illnesses. In other words, this approach actually works. But there are many barriers that are preventing folks from entering and staying in the peer support profession, such as overly complicated certification processes and strict background check rules.

The PEER Support Act would help remove these obstacles and ensure more people can become peer support specialists. Importantly, it would establish a new Office of Recovery at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, better known as SAMHSA, to identify ways we can better support workers and create clear career pathways in the field.

Addiction and mental illness can be a long, difficult journey. Simply having someone to talk to who has been there before and can help you get to the other side is invaluable — and my legislation would make that a possibility for so many who are suffering right now.

This is just one of several mental health bills I’ve introduced since arriving in Congress. Going forward, I plan on using my position as Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus to shine an even brighter light on mental health and addiction issues. No one should have to go it alone, and I will not stop working until every Oregonian can get the care they need, when they need it.