JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Sen. Mark Begich is co-sponsoring legislation aimed at improving mental health care in this country.
The proposal is an expansion on a measure that Begich had proposed after last summer's deadly shooting at a Colorado movie theater to improve mental health services on college campuses. It has drawn bipartisan support, which Begich says should help the measure gain traction in the new Congress.
The bill would provide training for educators and others to learn the warning signs and risk factors for mental health issues. It also lays out steps for referrals to mental health services available in communities.
Begich has called for a focus on improving mental health — rather than a focus on new gun control measures — after last month's deadly school shooting in Connecticut.
