Dear Friend,

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to share an update about the work I am doing in Congress to improve access to mental health care, as well as resources you or your loved ones can use if you are experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis.

Earlier this week, I joined other leaders in both the House and Senate Mental Health Caucuses for a mental health roundtable with pro athletes—including former Portland Thorns player Mana Shim!

It was very insightful to hear from these athletes about the pressures they face both inside and outside the game. Unfair pay, harassment in the workplace, and other factors can all have a negative impact on someone’s mental health. These issues are not unique to pro athletes—in fact, many of us suffer from similar challenges.

Whether you're a soccer player, a firefighter, or an ER nurse, you deserve affordable and accessible care that meets your needs.

Along with my fellow Mental Health Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Don Beyer and Grace Napolitano, I also lead 36 of my colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Together, we will continue working to enact bipartisan solutions that will help make care more accessible and affordable and finally put an end to the mental health crisis in America.

Mental health challenges are at an all-time high and can be devastating for individuals, families, and communities. Several members of my own family have struggled with their mental health, so I know from personal experience how important it is to fight back against stigma and expand access to care. 

That is why I have introduced several bills—many of them bipartisan—to help bring down the cost of care, combat stigma, and make care more accessible for Oregonians. 

Here are just a few of the bills I’ve championed in Congress:

• The HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act, which would provide three free mental health visits per year for folks on Medicare and Medicaid recipients
• The bipartisan PEER Support Act, would break down barriers to entry in the peer support workforce and bolster peer support services for people with mental health and substance use disorders
• The bipartisan Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act, which would expand access to telehealth services, especially for folks living in rural areas
• The Peer Support for Firefighters Act, which would prioritize mental health support for firefighters and first responders under federal law

Before I sign off, I’d like to highlight a few resources that you can use or share with friends and family. 

In case you missed it, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has officially transitioned from a ten-digit number to just three digits: 9-8-8. This is a free, confidential hotline that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 to get help. You can also visit the 988 Lifeline website to learn more.

If you are calling as a veteran, dial 988 then press 1.

For Oregon specific resources, you can visit NAMI Oregon. They offer assistance in various languages, culturally competent resources, peer-to-peer support for teens, and more.

Finally, teens and youth in crisis can access free teen-to-teen support through YouthLine. Click the link here to learn more about their helpline. 

This May, please take time to care for yourself and reach out to those you love. Mental health struggles are more common than you might think, and it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. Click here to learn more about how I’m fighting to improve mental and behavioral health access.

Be well,




Andrea Salinas
Member of Congress