Nov. 15, 2022
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) has accepted a leadership role on a committee focused on mental health policy and workforce impacts.
Gregory will serve as a subcommittee chairman on the Mental Health Matters: National Task Force on Workforce Mental Health Policy Committee hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures and The Council of State Governments in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED).
Gregory hopes to bring perspectives and experiences from Pennsylvania to the national conversation as the task force works to identify state policy options and develops a bipartisan framework to address and support the mental health needs of America’s workers.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to participate in talks about how the mental health of workers affects Pennsylvania’s employers and business climate. These are important conversations to be had,” Gregory said.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics’ Household Pulse Survey, an increasing number of adults are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression since 2020. In addition, a growing number of adults are reporting lingering symptoms of COVID-19, a condition known as long COVID, which can include anxiety, stress and other mental health conditions. As a result, states are leading efforts to ensure healthy and productive post-pandemic workplaces through accessible mental health supports and state policy changes.
The task force will convene state legislators, governors and behavioral health experts from all corners of the United States to identify effective evidence-based policy solutions in the following areas:
• Nondiscrimination, parity and mental health benefits.
• Workplace care and supports.
• Underserved racial and ethnic and rural communities.
• Behavioral health workforce shortages and state support and crisis services systems.
With the support of SEED, the task force will convene over the next six months as it develops a thorough menu of state legislative and executive policy options and resources for the nation’s state legislatures and governors.
Representative Jim Gregory
80th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
717.260.6335
jfitch@pahousegop.com
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