AHA calls on Congress to increase access to mental health services for children

In a statement submitted to the Senate Finance Committee today for a hearing on protecting children’s mental health, the AHA urged Congress to lift the caps on physician residency positions and increase scholarships, loan forgiveness and other financial supports to encourage health care providers to specialize in behavioral health services. AHA also called for robust funding for the National Health Service Corps, nursing workforce development and other programs to build and support diversity in the behavioral health workforce; vigorous enforcement of mental health parity laws; and funding to help identify patients at high risk for suicide, facilitate suicide prevention training at health professions schools, and support culturally competent trauma and mental health services in communities affected by violence.