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FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

Original title: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN AMERICA: PRIORITIES, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

January 1, 2017

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing serves as a foundational discussion for federal policy regarding mental health services, affecting how government agencies like SAMHSA and NIMH allocate resources and coordinate with states to provide treatment and community-based care.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

State Departments of Mental Health

These agencies are responsible for providing community-based behavioral health services, including screening and counseling.

Individuals with mental health or substance use disorders

These individuals are the primary recipients of the services and policies discussed by the committee.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on October 29, 2015, to examine the current state of mental health and substance use disorders in the United States. The session focused on identifying priorities, challenges, and opportunities for federal and state-level interventions.

Key Facts

  • Nearly one in five adults over age 26 reported suffering from a mental illness in 2013.
  • Nearly one in ten Americans between ages 12 and 17 reported having at least one major depressive episode in 2013.
  • In Tennessee, approximately one in five adults reported having a mental illness in 2013, totaling over one million people.
  • Approximately 5 percent of Tennessee adults had a severe mental illness in 2013.
  • Approximately 41,000 Tennesseans experienced a major depressive episode in 2013.
  • States hold primary responsibility for behavioral health, including counseling, case management, and screening services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing was held to discuss the priorities, challenges, and opportunities regarding mental health and substance use disorders in America.
Who testified at the hearing?
The witnesses included Kana Enomoto (SAMHSA), Jim Macrae (HRSA), and Dr. Thomas Insel (NIMH).

Why It Matters

This hearing serves as a foundational discussion for federal policy regarding mental health services, affecting how government agencies like SAMHSA and NIMH allocate resources and coordinate with states to provide treatment and community-based care.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

State-Federal Coordination

The hearing emphasizes the traditional role of states as the primary providers of behavioral health services, framing federal involvement as a support mechanism.

Connected Entities

organizationNational Institute of Mental HealthFederal research agencyMap →
organizationSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationFederal agency focused on behavioral healthMap →
personKana EnomotoActing Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationMap →
personLamar AlexanderChairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsMap →
personThomas InselDirector, National Institute of Mental HealthMap →
personJim MacraeActing Administrator, Health Resources and Services AdministrationMap →
personPatty MurrayU.S. Senator from WashingtonMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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