State legislators are calling for more action on mental health reform nationally.
Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal are among those calling for more funding for mental health services after a mental health reform act was signed into law in 2016. It has not been fully implemented federally.
A bipartisan group of senators want congress to follow through by funding the mental health programs outlined in the bill.
"In December 2016, Congress made mental health and substance use disorders an important, bipartisan issue by passing this significant legislation into law…," wrote the senators. "We must follow through by funding these programs to truly address the long-standing challenges in our mental health system and enact the change that was outlined in the Mental Health Reform Act."
Among other things, the act strengthened enforcement of mental health parity laws, promoted integrated mental health and physical health, and established new programs to assist those with, or at risk for, mental illness.
A group of 20 senators signed the letter.