Rep. Lee's Virtual Peer Support Act Passes the House as Part of Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Legislation

Statement

This week, Rep. Susie Lee's Virtual Peer Support Act was passed out of the House on a bipartisan vote as part of H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022. Rep. Lee (D-NV) introduced the Virtual Peer Support Act with Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) in April of 2021. The modified version of Rep. Lee's legislation included in H.R. 7666 would boost the capacity and accessibility of mental health support programs by helping service providers expand their in-person and online peer support services. The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act strengthens more than 30 programs that support mental health care and substance use disorder prevention, care, treatment, and recovery support services in Nevada.

Peer support programs are evidence-based programs where peer specialists use their own mental health and recovery experience and their state-certified training to offer support, coping skills, and community to others living with mental health conditions. Specifically, the legislation would create a $13 million grant program for eligible organizations to implement and expand peer support programs and build out their online capacity to meet increased need.

"Nevada, like much of this country, is facing a mental health crisis that demands our immediate attention," said Rep. Susie Lee. "We must be innovative in providing access to effective counseling options, which is exactly what my Virtual Peer Support Act does. I'm so proud that this legislation passed with support from both Democrats and Republicans, and I'll continue to fight to see it signed into law so we can get everyone the mental health care they need."

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