Healthcare reform is currently being debated in the U.S. Congress and we want to ensure you know how important it is to include suicide prevention priorities in this historic legislation. SPAN USA/AFSP needs you to tell your Senators and Representatives about these priorities. Health reform legislation currently includes many positive provisions that will lead to greater access to mental health and substance use treatment, increase early identification of mental health and substance use disorders, and provide funding for prevention and wellness programs. However, in conjunction with SPAN USA/AFSP's health reform priorities, we remain concerned that:
· mental health and substance use parity be provided within all insurance plans covered by the legislation;
· coordination of care provisions include behavioral health providers and integrate mental health and substance use services with primary care; and
· prevention and wellness provisions include suicide prevention, not just chronic disease prevention.
Therefore SPAN/AFSP is asking you to meet with your members of Congress while they are home during the remaining weeks of the summer recess.
Please follow the steps below, asking your Congressmen to provide parity for all; coordinate care for suicide attempt survivors and those with mental illness; and include suicide prevention along with chronic disease prevention in grant programs!
Here is what you can do to help create this change:
1. Make an appointment at a district office close to you.
How to set up a meeting:
-Check your Member's website for information on setting up a meeting (many offices require a written request)
-Call the office and ask to speak to the person in charge of scheduling. Identify yourself as a constituent and an advocate with SPAN USA/AFSP, and request a meeting with the official regarding health reform.
-Make sure to follow up as the process may take some time.Keys to success:-Stick to your talking points (provided below).
-Be specific about SPAN USA/AFSP's priorities for health reform.-Treat staff with respect.
-Deliver your entire message within ten minutes.
-Get the card of the legislator (as well as staff that you meet with) and follow up within two weeks.Meeting talking points:
-Who you are: Introduce yourself.Why you are there: Describe your role in the district/state's suicide prevention community.
-Why this is important: Explain the impact of suicide on you, the local community and provide some state statistics.
-What you can do: You can ask for them to support suicide prevention health reform priorities and leave behind the document with the requests.
2. Find out when your local official is hosting a town hall meeting.
-Make sure to be well prepared.
-Ask a specific question related to suicide prevention and health reform.
3. Invite the official to a local meeting, community walk, or another event.
-Include basics such as time, date, location, and your contact information.
-Incorporate facts that will get the official's attention--e.g., number of people attending and if the media is attending..
4. Reporting Your Efforts
-Make sure to report how the visit/town hall went to SPAN USA/AFSP by using the paper form available here or via an online survey available here.
-Follow up with a thank you letter to the official or staff you met with.
-Encourage others you know to make similar visits.
If you have any questions, please contact Brian Altman at baltman@spanusa.org or 202-449-3600, x103.
