President Biden’s First State of the Union to Include Strategy to Address U.S. Mental Health Crisis

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]President Biden is expected to announce his administration’s strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis in the president’s first State of the Union tonight, according to a White House announcement. The strategy is part of what the White House has called a “unity agenda” that consists of policy in which there has historically been support from both Democrats and Republicans—and for which the president will call on Congress to send bills to his desk that deliver progress for all Americans. According to the administration, the mental health strategy aims to strengthen system capacity, connect more Americans to care, and create healthy environments where the country’s health and social services infrastructure addresses mental health holistically and equitably. A White House fact sheet provides detailed action steps for each of these three goals, such as launching the 988 behavioral health crisis hotline that will go live in July; expanding and strengthening parity; and establishing stronger online protections for young people, including prioritizing safety-by-design standards and practices for online platforms, products, and services. President Biden will deliver the State of the Union at 9 p.m. ET. The address will air on all major broadcast networks and cable news channels.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]