The Jed Foundation Commends Secretary Hillary Clinton's Comprehensive Mental Health Agenda

NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jed Foundation (JED), a national leader in protecting emotional health and preventing suicide among teens and young adults, commends Secretary Clinton's Comprehensive Mental Health Agenda for its breadth, depth and thoughtfulness. Serious mental illness costs America nearly $200 billion per year, and 60% of adults and 50% of youth in-need have not received mental health services¹.

Over the past 25 years our nation has developed a woeful gap in availability of clinical mental health resources and our mental health system has become increasingly fragmented and under-funded. This has occurred while funding for social services, mental health research and training of mental health professionals has also decreased. In spite of advances in knowledge around mental health treatment and suicide prevention, our nation has witnessed an increase in suicides². We are facing a mental health crisis.

The Comprehensive Agenda for Mental Health is an excellent effort to counteract this crisis. It proposes increasing integration of health and mental health services and calls for significantly enhanced community-based treatment options. The Agenda takes valuable steps in quelling the increasing rates of suicide in the U.S. by focusing on multi-pronged approaches to suicide prevention already shown to be beneficial.

JED exemplifies this broad-based, community health approach in its programs. Its pioneering Framework for supporting mental health on college and university campuses helps schools approach mental health promotion and suicide prevention through a campus-wide lens focusing on enhancing protective factors, early intervention and coordinated clinical care and crisis management. JED's Framework, which is highlighted in Clinton's Agenda, is implemented through the JED Campus program (jedcampus.org) which now has over 150 participating colleges and universities representing more than 1.8 million students.

JED believes, as is conveyed in the Agenda, that the next generation should grow up knowing that mental health is integral to overall health, that there is no shame in seeking help, and that excellent care must be available to all who need it. Substance use and suicide are among the leading causes of death of college students³, and nearly half of students report feelings of depression and anxiety severe enough to impact their daily functioning during the past year. The need for comprehensive mental health support on college campuses is greater than ever.

"Secretary Clinton's Agenda is an essential step forward for protecting the mental health of Americans, including our teens and young adults," said John MacPhee, Chief Executive Officer of JED. "This critical issue transcends candidate, campaigns and parties, and we are encouraged that mental health is being elevated to the national agenda."

JED is proud to be part of the Agenda, and will continue to deliver programs that meet the mental health needs of America's students and their families.

About The Jed Foundation 
JED is a national nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. We're partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems. We're equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We're encouraging community awareness, understanding and action for young adult mental health.

Learn more at jedfoundation.org. Check out our programs including: JED Campus (jedcampus.org), ULifeline (ulifeline.org), Half of Us (halfofus.com), Love is Louder (loveislouder.com) and Set to Go (settogo.org).

Connect with JED on social media: 
Twitter: twitter.com/jedfoundation 
Facebook: facebook.com/jedfoundation 
Instagram: instagram.com/jedfoundation
YouTube: youtube.com/jedfoundation
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-jed-foundation

Media Contact:
Jeremi Gill
(212) 508-9617
[email protected]

¹ Mental Health Facts in America, http://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/GeneralMHFacts.pdf.
² Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999–2014, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db241.htm.
³ 10 Leading Causes of Death by Age Group, United States – 2013, http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/pdf/leading_causes_of_death_by_age_group_2013-a.pdf.

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SOURCE The Jed Foundation

Related Links

http://www.jedfoundation.org