U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III wants to bolster mental health care

NEWTON – U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III touted the work of William James College during a visit on Wednesday in which he participated in a panel discussion on the future of mental health treatment. 

“What an incredible resource this (William James College) is for folks that are trying to address the major unmet health concerns across our country,” the congressman said. “From identifying the gaps where we fall short, to educating the next generation of practitioners and leaders in providing resources to policy makers.”

The stop was one of three Kennedy made Wednesday in recognition of Mental Health Day. At William James, Kennedy joined professors and administrators to discuss a range of mental health concerns in regards to college and the workplace.

Kennedy said it's crucial to gain a better understanding of the steps necessary to move forward with certain, relevant policies. Second, he said, it's important to understand how deep the need for reform is going to impact the future of not only Massachusetts, but the nation.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said. “But I think there’s a growing recognition that something needs to be done.”

William James President Nicholas Covino said there has been a serious concern in recruiting young people into the mental health field. He said the number of students interested has seemed to have tapered off.

“It’s daunting to come into a field and pay money for graduate training, which people should get in order to do this work properly, and come out into a space that’s really difficult,” Covino said. William James, formerly called the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, is a graduate school that prepares students for careers in behavioral health and leadership. It has about 600 students.

Covino asked Kennedy if he could do anything to reduce the cost in insurance, reimbursement and overall care to help attract aspiring mental-care workers into the field.

Kennedy said Covino's argument is almost exactly in line with what he’s been working to accomplish. Earlier this year, a Kennedy-sponsored bill was passed into law that guarantees mental health care for children under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

When asked about mental health issues associated with drug and alcohol abuse, Kennedy maintained his stance, saying he’s seen how badly an ill-informed group can suffer from addiction.

He said that when he was working as a prosecutor, he saw how the opioid epidemic affected families.

“It’s not just because of the pills or the heroin, but because of what addiction is, and what it was leading people to do in order to satiate their needs,” said Kennedy, who is seeking his fourth two-year term representing the 4th Congressional District, and does not have a Republican challenger on Nov. 6.

Breaking into homes and cars, among other crimes, has been associated with the opioid epidemic, he said.

“You talk to folks who work in this field, and it comes back over and over again to the systemic gaps we have in mental health,” Kennedy said.

He said Congress is often responsive to advocacy groups, as long as they can make their case for additional funding or for changes in where money is allocated.

“That is literally the definition of democracy, and that’s fine,” Kennedy said. “But you also have to recognize that there are some groups, because of various circumstances, are unable to come to Washington and make that case.”

Scott Calzolaio can be reached at 508-734-0389 or scalzolaio@wickedlocal.com.