Representatives Don Bacon, Paul D. Tonko, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Senator Edward Markey have reintroduced the Community Mental Wellness & Resilience Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to address mental health issues resulting from natural disasters by establishing a federal grant program for community-specific responses.
Congressman Don Bacon emphasized the need for community-driven solutions: “The mental health crisis affecting our communities is one of the most serious challenges of our time. We need comprehensive, community-driven solutions that empower local leaders to develop and implement programs that work for their specific needs.”
Congressman Tonko highlighted the lasting trauma caused by extreme weather events: “Extreme weather disasters don’t just wreak havoc on our homes, economies, and infrastructure — they inflict lasting trauma and mental harm for those both directly impacted and far beyond the affected area.”
Senator Markey pointed out the increasing demand for mental health services as climate-related disasters become more frequent: “Communities are struggling to meet the current need for mental health services, and as the climate crisis worsens, unprecedented disasters will only cause more unprecedented harm to our physical and mental health.”
Congressman Fitzpatrick noted that past disaster responses have overlooked mental health: “For too long, our disaster response has focused solely on physical recovery while the mental and emotional toll has gone unaddressed.”
According to Mental Health America in 2024, nearly 23 percent of U.S. adults experienced a diagnosed mental illness. The new act seeks to establish a competitive grant program at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) aimed at creating or expanding community-based programs focused on building resilience.
More than 110 organizations support this legislation including prominent groups such as Mental Health America and YMCA of the USA.
