Dear Friend,

In 2016, opioid overdoses accounted for more than 42,000 deaths, more than any previous year on record.  The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the impact of opioid crisis on communities across Connecticut. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), the number of drug overdose deaths increased by nearly 30% from 2019 to 2020. No less concerning, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that young adults ages 18 to 25 reported the highest past-year opioid use of all age groups. 

As your Congresswoman, I know mental health, addiction, and suicide are not single-issue conversations. We must address the core issues that make communities susceptible to these circumstances. This is why I introduced the Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act, legislation to increase student access to evidence-based trauma support and mental health services. Also, I joined my colleagues in advancing the Mental Health Matters Act out of the Committee on Education and Labor. This legislation takes comprehensive steps to support the behavioral health of students and school staff, strengthen school-based behavioral health care, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits for workers and families.

Additionally, I am a strong supporter each year of the Mental Health Block Grant and other programs that bring money back to providers in Connecticut to help with mental health service. Most recently, I helped secure a $1.2 million grant for Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) in New Britain. The funding will assist CMHA in their development of a crisis respite center. 

I am committed to improving the health and well-being of my constituents. I will continue to support critical mental health programs and bring federal resources back to the Fifth District of Connecticut. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. As always, please continue to share your thoughts and priorities with me.  To hear more about my work in Congress, subscribe to my newsletter here.

Jahana Hayes

Member of Congress