IMHCA NEWS - Fall/Winter 2004

Hawaii Licensure Law Enacted!
Hawaii has become the 48th state to license professional counselors! Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle approved the licensure bill passed by the state legislature, S.B. 2595, on July 13th. Passage of the licensure law is an important, hard-won victory for the Hawaii Counseling Association (HCA) and the state's counselors, and brings the profession one step closer to achieving licensure in all 50 states.

The law makes particular note of the cost-effectiveness of counselors, and states in a preamble that "Regulating professional mental health counselors makes good economic sense for the State and demonstrates a compassionate concern for the mental health needs of Hawaii's citizens."

The law establishes the title of "Licensed Mental Health Counselor," and defines the practice of mental health counseling to include "the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of, and counseling for," both mental and emotional disorders as well as substance abuse and conduct disorders. In order to be eligible for licensure, counselors will need to have completed at least a 48-semester hour master's degree including specific core course work listed in the law, complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate counseling work within a 2-year period, and pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE). An article regarding the new licensure law will appear in Counseling Today.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (October 21, 2004) -The National Mental Health Association applauds the enactment of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which authorizes funding to support state strategies to create or expand suicide prevention programs. The President signed this legislation into law this morning.

"In enacting this legislation, federal policymakers have acknowledged that it's time to address a wholly preventable tragedy - adolescent suicide," said Michael Faenza, MSSW, NMHA President and CEO. "Each year, an estimated 500,000 American teens attempt suicide, and nearly 2,000 die as a result. Needless to say, this devastates both families and communities."

Although effective mental health interventions exist for youth, only one-third of youth with mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, receive any mental healthcare. And, even fewer receive adequate care.

"Now that the Garrett Smith Act is law, Congress and the President must go one step further by funding the programs it authorized," said Faenza. "At the same time, much more needs to be done to address the unmet mental health needs of children and adults in America, and to make real the vision of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health."

The President's Commission noted that the mental health system is in "shambles" and requires major transformation to provide the quality services that people with mental health problems, family members and communities deserve. NMHA urges Congress and the President to actively support other legislation - such as the widely-supported Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act - designed to help achieve this transformation. NMHA also urges Congress and the Administration to increase resources for mental health services, which are struggling under the weight of severe funding shortages.

NMHA looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to ensure Americans with mental health problems and their families have adequate access to the treatments they need.

The National Mental Health Association is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research and service.