Congressman Joyce: We cannot turn away from the childhood mental health crisis.

Washington, DC – Congressman John Joyce M.D. (PA-13) addressed the mental health crisis that is facing American children and their families.

At an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing, Congressman Joyce questionedDr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, about the mental health crisis that effects millions of children. Congressman Joyce addressed the need for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to release data more rapidly, so that troubling trends in childhood mental health can be quickly identified, and addressed.

“My office has heard from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the East and UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh that this problem exists statewide and will not be going away as we continue to feel the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Dr. Joyce. “As policymakers, we cannot turn away from this crisis and we must work together to make sure physicians and mental health professionals are able to face these issues in every state.”

Watch Congressman Joyce’s conversation with Dr. Delphin-Rittmon here.

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