FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 7, 2016
MEDIA ADVISORY
Cardin Roundtable at Sheppard Pratt to Celebrate a Milestone in Community Mental Health Care
Senator’s newly passed legislation expands access to mental health services; regional public health leaders to discuss additional challenges in mental health care
Monday, February 8 at 8:30 AM, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) will hold a roundtable discussion at Sheppard Pratt hospital with public health leaders from throughout Maryland on recent triumphs and remaining challenges in providing community mental health services. Following the recent passage of Senator Cardin’s
Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care Act of 2015, participants will discuss ways to overcome the remaining hurdles to providing quality community health care in Maryland and across the nation.
“The struggles of mental illness are all too real, and for those in the midst of often debilitating disorders, any and all support we can give makes a real difference in both their lives and the lives of their families. But despite the prevalence of mental illness and the fact that high-quality, evidence-based mental health treatment can be transformative, barriers like cost and stigma are still keeping too many Americans from accessing the mental health care that they need,” said Senator Cardin. “Greater access to behavioral health care services – including both mental health and substance abuse treatment – is needed now more than ever, and I look forward to the opportunity to hear directly from Maryland’s health care leaders on ways we can improve the availability and quality of care.”
WHAT: Roundtable on Community Mental Health Care
WHO: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin
Steven Sharfstein, M.D., President and CEO, Sheppard Pratt Health System
Community Public Health Leaders
WHEN: Monday, February 8 at 8:30 AM
WHERE: The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital Conference Center
6501 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21204
