Senator Biden for VP - Excellent News for Mental Health Care Advocates!

THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH!  Senator Joseph Biden, co-sponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act, has agreed to be Senator Obama’s running mate.  Senator Biden is fully aware of the challenges facing America in the area of mental health care, and he is committed to resolving problems in that area.

Below is a letter from Senator Biden to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) during his presidential bid:

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December 30, 2007

Dear National Alliance of Mental Illness Membership,

Thank you for the invitation to share information on my mental health positions. Mental health is an important part of one's overall health and deserves to be treated equally and be covered by health insurance.

It is estimated that 26.2 percent of Americans over 18, approximately 57.7 million people, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, mental disorders and people suffering from them face great stigmatism and discrimination. We must work to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness, and to create opportunities for people to seek help and treatment for their illness. I believe in investing in research for new methods of prevention and treatment, and working to make sure these innovations are available to patients by guaranteeing that insurance providers must provide full parity for mental health treatment. I was a co-sponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act and I remain committed to the goals of the act as a cosponsor of the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 in this Congress. In addition, I have fought to make sure that Medicare patients pay the same co-payments and deductibles for a mental health issue as they would for a physical injury. As President, I would continue these efforts and work to ensure mental health parity.

I thank you for the opportunity to discuss these issues and look forward to working with your organization to improving the lives of persons living with mental illnesses and their families.

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For additional information on Senator Biden, please see below:
 
Biden Bio:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joseph_Biden
 
 
Biden Bio:
http://fora.tv/speaker/Joseph-Biden


Biden on Cuban Prisons:  Need to be shut down
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-05-biden-close-guantanamo_x.htm?csp=34


Biden on Crime
http://www.joebiden.com/issues/display/crime/


Campaign Issues 2008 " Welfare & Poverty
Identifies multiple issues which America faces today and then proceeds to provide each candidate position in their own ... Withdrawn / Biden on Welfare & Poverty ... abuse, mental illness . . .


Joe Biden on Civil Rights
www.ontheissues.org/2008/Joe_Biden_ Civil_Rights.htm


Joe Biden on Gun Control
www.ontheissues.org/2008/Joe_Biden_Gun_ Control.htm

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I had entertained hopes that Senator Clinton would be Senator Obama’s running mate, however, I believe that Senator Biden is an excellent choice for Vice President for the United States of America.  His lengthy and prestigious history in the Senate will compliment Senator Obama’s quest for positive CHANGE!

CONGRATULATIONS, SENATORS!

Mary Neal
Website :  http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com

Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
Visit online:  http://www.care2com/c2c/group/AIMI