When these tragedies strike, politicians, media and victims cry out about the state of mental healthcare in our country, and how we must do something to solve it. But what do we do? How do we do it? As politicians fail to come to an agreement, people suffer further every day. One thing we can agree on — our current mental health system is in a crisis that demands swift and effective action.
As a member of Congress, I have heard this call to action, and I am doing something about it. I am a non-practicing registered nurse who once served as the Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Dallas. My background and work on this issue motivated me to join forces with Congressman Tim Murphy, R-Pa., to offer our voices and push for reform through the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act.
Read Full Article »