Yet, one overall theme extended throughout in each speech: mental health treatment is extremely expensive. This is because many health plans unfairly treat coverage for mental health benefits by imposing co-payments, deductibles or limits on outpatient visits that are more restrictive than those placed on physical illness.  The message from the event is that we must provide equality in the way we treat those with mental illnesses.

It is no coincidence then, that Mental Health Month (the event that brought us Children’s Depression Awareness Day) was capped off this year by National Mental Health Parity Day which aimed to raise awareness around the issue of unequal care for the mentally ill and advocate for legislation that will bring equality to our health care system. 

Currently, Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstead (R-MN) have introduced the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 (H.R.1424) into Congress which aims to do just this.  This bill is widely popular, garnering 266 cosponsors.  To show your support for this legislation, visit Mental Health America, one of the nation’s premier mental health advocacy groups, to learn more and become a citizen cosponsor.  To write a letter to your congressional representative about mental health parity visit the RAC’s legislative action center.