, psychology professor and director of the at 香蕉视频, contributed significantly to landmark legislation recently introduced to U.S. Congress. The bipartisan bill expands access to critical care to alleviate overextended emergency departments and law enforcement responding to the nation鈥檚 growing mental health crisis.
The , cosponsored by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, was introduced during National Suicide Prevention Month. The bulk of the bill is based on Jobes鈥 recommendations from his 40 years of experience and research in suicide prevention.
The bill would create a new grant program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for outpatient and virtual crisis care services that can provide immediate interventions and support systems to stabilize people who are suicidal. Amid growing awareness that current infrastructure is inadequate to meet the need for mental health services, this bill would provide a means for innovative, evidence-based care models to expand access to better care.
鈥淭he STOP Suicide Act will provide critical funding to increase crisis stabilization services for people struggling with suicidal risk,鈥 said Jobes in a from Raskin鈥檚 office. 鈥淭hese services will bridge the gap between calling the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and hospitalization.鈥
It all started when Jobes contacted Rep. Raskin鈥檚 office after his son Tommy Raskin died by suicide during the darkest days of the pandemic. Jobes, one of Raskin鈥檚 Maryland constituents, had worked with him and other lawmakers over the years to advocate for better mental health policy at the national level. Shortly after Jobes reached out, Rep. Raskin鈥檚 staff asked for his recommendations for how to help the millions suffering with suicidal thoughts.
Four years later, Jobes is proud to see this partnership lead to legislative action. He鈥檚 hopeful that innovators such as , a growing network of centers that use the , a care model he , will be able to save more lives 鈥 thanks to growing awareness that change is possible.
鈥淭here鈥檚 never been a time like now where the policy is creating opportunities, and we鈥檙e not letting mere convention 鈥 relying on emergency departments and inpatient admissions 鈥 drive what contemporary suicide-focused care should look like,鈥 said Jobes.
