(Here's news from Mental Health America on activities in Congress to keep you informed about what's on the radar screen for national public policy debates on mental health policy.)

This summer, a lot!! On August 4, Senators Bill Cassidy (R-TN) and Christopher Murphy (D-CT) introduced the Mental Health Reform Act of 2015. While Mental Health America has not yet formally endorsed it or its House counterpart (H.R. 2646), we consider it another important step toward making comprehensive mental health reform a reality in America. Check out our press statement on the legislation and a Chiming In blog post by MHA president and CEO Paul Gionfriddo on the subject.

Last week, Republican John Cornyn of Texas introduced legislation that addresses issues with the current national background checks system by encouraging states, through the promise of federal funding, to send more information on mental health records to the national database. Cornyn's bill includes language on Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), which would "create a path" for people dealing with mental illness to be ordered into treatment by a judge without being involuntarily committed. It includes provisions supporting mental health courts and CIT training, too.  MHA has not endorsed the legislation, which has the support of the National Rifle Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). We have stated that we favor a system in which behavioral health EMTs, not police and sheriffs, respond to mental health crises. We think hospitals and health clinics-not jails and prisons-are sites of evaluation and stabilization, and that health professionals (including peers) and families-not lawyers and judges-work with individuals, once stabilized, to develop a plan of treatment and support.

Last month, Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act, "a bill to continue and improve programs that help states and local communities in suicide prevention, helping children recover from traumatic events, mental health awareness for teachers and other individuals, and assessing barriers to integrating behavioral health and primary care." The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and is expected to be marked up in the coming weeks.

Time to sharpen your advocacy skills and get busy with letters, calls and e-mails to our Congressional delegation.