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Mental Health Monday

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 6, 2023
Location: Washington, DC

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Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my first Mental Health Monday.

There are 731,000 adults in Oregon who have a mental health condition. These 731,000 of our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members are struggling, and we in Congress have an obligation to find solutions to their struggles.

That is why I am dedicating my Mondays to mental health. For too long, we have allowed stigma to shame people into silence, and that silence has cost lives. It is my hope that, by raising awareness, we can make strides in care, treatment, and recovery for those struggling with their mental health.

Today is also the first Monday of Black History Month, so I would be remiss not to acknowledge the troubling disparity in mental health care for the Black community. Lack of access to culturally responsive care makes treatment inaccessible to too many Black and Brown individuals. Congress must work to bridge that gap.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join me for future Mental Health Mondays as we work to break new ground on this very important issue.

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