Members of Congress pledged on Wednesday to speed federal help to victims suffering from mental health problems in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Virginia Sen. John Warner, the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, told health and education committee members that GOP and Democratic leaders would make room for an amendment authorizing federal mental health assistance when the Senate takes up a defense bill on Monday.
"Time is of the essence" to increase counseling and mental health services to attack victims who are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other problems, Warner said.
"We don't often get those kinds of invitations around here," said Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), who chairs the health and education committee. Kennedy said that health committee members would spend time this week coming up with plans for funding additional mental health relief efforts for survivors in New York City, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The committee heard from a panel of mental health experts, some of whom have spent the 2 weeks since the attacks treating survivors and family members suffering from mental trauma. Lawmakers were visibly moved as clinicians recounted harrowing stories of firefighters traumatized by the loss of colleagues at the World Trade Center and of the potentially hundreds of children orphaned when their parents were killed in the attacks.
Experts noted that those directly involved in the attacks are experiencing the worst mental health effects. But they warned that children across the country will need counseling in order to properly cope with memories of the events and the fear of future assaults.
"Our mental health system does not have the necessary resources in place to meet the onslaught of psychiatric disorders anticipated," said Dr. Carol North, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Bush administration has freed up approximately $49 million for emergency mental health services since September 11.
North and other experts called on Congress to make more funds available to train mental health workers on identifying and dealing with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. The also said that more needs to be done to educate parents about the need to give their children an outlet to express feelings and fears stemming from the attacks.
"Most therapists don't often deal with disaster situations. It's not in their skill set," said Dr. Spencer Eth, the vice chair of psychiatry at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York. The hospital, which has the largest trauma center near the "ground zero" site, has treated over 7,000 patients with mental and emotional problems since the attack.
Dr. Cynthia Pfeffer, director of the child bereavement program at Cornell University, recommended that parents take the time to deal with their own grief stemming from the attacks, but also "have an ounce of extra energy to focus on their children's needs."
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-SD) confirmed vardenafil online to Reuters Health that he was seeking the agreements necessary to bring a mental health parity bill to the floor next week.
The bill would force insurance companies that offer mental health coverage to equalize the visit limits and co-payments for mental health services with those for physical health services. Supporters have been in a hurry to pass legislation since an existing, less stringent parity law is set to expire on September 30.
The bill enjoys the support of 61 co-sponsors, making it immune to a filibuster in the event that senators object to bringing it to the floor for a vote. Still, Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK) the assistant Republican leader, said that he still had to "do my homework" on the bill, and at press time it was unclear whether GOP leaders would agree to support a vote.
Some Republicans oppose the measure because of fears that it could increase insurance costs and drive up the number of Americans without coverage.