NAMI News

New Year, New Agenda

NAMI Announces 2017 Federal Priorities

1/3/2017

Every January, millions of Americans commit to better themselves through New Year’s resolutions. But as we know, few of us make it past the first month without a plan to guide our commitment.

That’s why NAMI is ringing in the New Year with five robust resolutions aimed at a single vision: to safeguard all Americans living with mental illness.

Today NAMI released its federal policy priorities for the 2017 legislative year. As members of the 115th Congress settle into their new offices on Capitol Hill, NAMI is prepared to welcome them with a clear agenda for improving our nation’s mental health system.

The 2017 legislative priorities are as follows:

  1. Invest in Mental Health and Innovation
  2. Promote Early Intervention
  3. Improve Integration of Care
  4. Support Caregivers, Military Service Members and Veterans
  5. End The Criminalization of Mental Illness

Read a more detailed version of NAMI’s 2017 policy priorities here.

2016 was a year of major strides for mental health policy. Mental health reform passed the House and the Senate and was finally signed into law on Dec. 7. But the past year also brought challenges for the mental health community. From the criminalization of mental illness to the shortages of mental health providers, it’s evident that we have our work cut out for us.

With the start of the New Year, NAMI resolves to fight more boldly than ever before to ensure that people with mental health conditions get the quality mental health care they need to experience recovery. By working together and committing our time, passion and individual voices to these shared priorities, we can shape the future of mental health care in America.

“Last year, Congress overwhelmingly passed the most significant mental health legislation in years. But we’re not done. We look forward to working with our bipartisan champions in Congress to ensure that the progress we made serves as a foundation for improving mental health care in America,” said Mary Giliberti, NAMI’s Chief Executive Officer.