Rep. Becca Balint and Rep. Paul Tonko Introduce Legislation to Tackle Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Mental Health Crisis

Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) introduced the Combating Loneliness Act (CLA) to address the acute mental health and loneliness crisis in America. The Combating Loneliness Act is co-led by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), chair of the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus. The CLA tackles the mental health crisis through community-focused approaches. This legislation supports the excellent work being done at the community level to increase social connection and mental wellbeing for all Americans. 

• Social infrastructure: This legislation invests in physical infrastructure that creates social connection through playgrounds, community gardens, recreation areas, and bike lanes. This bill also bolsters our “third-spaces” such as libraries, recreation centers, veteran service organizations, and senior centers so that they can expand their services with a focus on social connection. 
• Public health: Mental health care for communities and the health care workers that take care of us are both essential components of ending the loneliness crisis. The CLA bolsters the community health workforce, reauthorizes the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, funds mental health support groups, and encourages peer mental health first aid training, Additionally, this legislation creates new grants for mental health providers and extends pandemic-era programs that prevent burnout of healthcare providers.
• Youth mental health: The CLA prioritizes youth mental health and social connection through increasing funding to existing mental health programs in schools, access to school-based health services and after-school programs.