Can a Bipartisan Congressional Caucus Save Mental Health in America?

Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) is one of four chairs of the
bipartisan Mental Health Caucus in the U.S. House of
Representatives, a 93-member group of Republicans and Democrats
pledging to fight stigma, improve accessibility, and generally
make the country’s mental health better. But as the Trump
administration floats huge cuts to Medicaid and other social
services and as the tone of politics in America gets more divided
and vitriolic, does a well-intentioned group like that really
have a chance to overcome all that is standing in the way of
progress? We talk to Rep. Salinas about her work, her connection
to mental health, and what the future might hold.


Also in this episode, we are joined by listener Joslynn in
Dayton, Ohio, a member of our Preshies group on Facebook, for a
moving conversation about her depression. She says she’s kind of
resigned herself to feeling bad for the rest of her life and yet
she will persist in going to therapy, looking for new treatments,
and listening to our show to figure out what might help. It’s
unlike any interview you’ve heard on our show before.


Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly
members of Maximum Fun.


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what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you
like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at
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Help is available right away.


The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255,
1-800-273-TALK


Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.


International suicide hotline numbers available
here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines