Alexandria, VA - March 5, 2009 - The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is pleased to announce that U.S. Representative Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has agreed to serve as Honorary Chair of Mental Health Counseling Week, to be held May 3-9, 2009, during National Mental Health Month.
Mental Health Counseling Week is designated each year to educate parents and families, communities, schools, health policymakers and insurers, health professionals, and employers about the importance of good mental health and the profession of mental health counseling.
Filner, a Democrat representing California's 51st Congressional District, including much of San Diego, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. As chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Rep. Filner has been an outspoken advocate for increasing access to mental health services for veterans and was a sponsor and support of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act (P.L. 109-461), which explicitly recognizes licensed professional mental health counselors as mental health providers within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.
In a letter to mental health counselors, Rep. Filner said, "As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have a deep commitment to those veterans who have served our country at home and abroad and are suffering from mental illnesses. Mental health counselors can play a vital role in meeting the need for mental health providers within the VA health care system. Under my direction, the Committee will continue to address this important issue."
"AMHCA applauds Rep. Filner for his work on behalf of veterans and for his commitment to working in Congress to include mental health counselors as providers within VA programs," said AMHCA President Victoria A. Sardi, Ph.D., LPC. "We are honored to have Rep. Filner serve as Honorary Chair of Mental Health Counseling Week and we look forward to working with him in the future."