Enhancing Mental Health Services for Children & Families
We are currently facing a youth mental health crisis across our state and the country. While we saw a rise in depression, anxiety, self-harm, and other forms of distress prior to the pandemic, the increase in isolation and uncertainty over the past two years has exacerbated this issue for young people. HB 5001, An Act Concerning Children's Mental Health, is a comprehensive proposal encompassing schools, healthcare settings, insurance eligibility, screening tools, and more. This comprehensive piece of legislation addresses the immediate, intermediate and long term needs of Connecticut's mental and behavior health system for children by expanding mental health services in our schools, addressing gaps in insurance coverage, and strengthening community services for mental health before a child reaches a need for crisis-level care.
A press conference was held on Friday, Feb. 18, to unveil the legislation and discuss the ways in which it will address the needs of Connecticut's mental and behavior health system for children. You can watch the press conference here.