NAMI Calls on Congress to Act—by the Thousands

Sep 4, 2014

NAMI issued a powerful call to action this week as its national convention opened in Washington, D.C. Approximately 1,500 NAMI members descended on Capitol Hill to meet with congressional staff while many more thousands of mental health advocates across the country supported the cause through social media.

Rallying the convention at its opening session were former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Virginia state senator Creigh Deeds and recording artist and actress Demi Lovato—who themselves have had their lives directly affected by mental illness.

C-SPAN covered the opening speeches live, while other broadcast and print media focused on the convention’s demand that Congress pass comprehensive mental health legislation now—before the November elections. Among the day’s headlines:

Mental health advocates call on Congress for change
USA Today

Thousands Converge on U.S. Capitol for Mental Health Reform
Think Progress

Demi Lovato urges Congress to pass mental health legislation
The Hill

In an op-ed article published in Roll Call, a newspaper read closely by Mebers of Congress, NAMI Executive Director Mary Giliberti emphasized that mental health care reform is about saving lives. It should not be forced to wait.