2021 Virtual Hill Day Kickoff
Virtual HIll Day 2021
Monday, May 24, 2021
2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT
This event has concluded.
Join advocates and organizations across America for Virtual Hill Day. This day of advocacy will unite people with lived experience, affiliate organizations, associate members, caregivers, and the public to effectively engage legislators as COVID-19 continues to negatively impact our nation’s mental health. Elected officials must be reminded to keep mental health in mind as they consider funding, health care, education, and justice-related legislation and as schools and workplaces reopen.
Advocates are urging Congress to make increased investments in community mental health services and advance legislative changes that make it easier to access needed services across many settings. Special guests, legislators, Mental Health America (MHA)'s affiliates and staff will kick off Hill Day online at 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT on Monday, May 24, 2021.
Kickoff Agenda
2:00 p.m. ET - 3:00 p.m. ET
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Welcome Debbie Plotnick, VP of Federal and State Advocacy, Mental Health America |
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Trends in MHA's Screening Data Caren Howard, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Mental Health America |
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Special Remarks from Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman Adrian Smith, Sponsors of the PEERS in Medicare Act |
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Peer Support and Equity Discussions Keris Myrick, Board Member of the National Association for Peer Support and Kelly Davis, Associate Vice President of Peer and Youth Advocacy, Mental Health America |
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Federal Update Mary Giliberti, Executive Vice President of Policy, Mental Health America |
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Asks and Actions |
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Charge |
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Q&A Session Casy Badmington, Senator Cortez Masto (NV) |
Act B4Stage4 Advocacy Toolkit
For information on how to be an advocate, and what to ask in your Hill Day meetings and calls download MHA’s Before Stage Four Advocacy Toolkit. It includes our weekly themes, how-to’s, tips for how to find and contact your legislators, background on the most pressing issues, and a social media guide.
Social Media
Contact your members of Congress. Use these sample graphics to share your ask. Click each graphic to save.
Email your legislators about...
Crisis Services and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Pursuing Equity in Mental Health
The 2021 Hill Day slides are available for download
Background
MHA’s screening data for 2020 demonstrates an increase in prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression in youth and adults, as well as thousands of screeners citing loneliness, isolation, and COVID-19 as contributing to their mental health challenges right now. The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming our communities and our nation’s health care system, including mental health and addiction services. Congress must make additional investments in behavioral health to improve access to services and help those with untreated mental health conditions get into treatment.
MHA’s Advocacy Team mobilizes stakeholders to act on Hill Day as part of a nationwide movement toward a robust mental health system that promotes prevention and early intervention initiatives, access to integrated community-based treatments and supports that are recovery-focused and that encompass community inclusion.
MHA – founded in 1909 – is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated care, services, and supports for those who need them, with recovery as the goal. Much of our current work is guided by the Before Stage 4 (B4Stage4) philosophy – that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach a chronic stage.