128 - Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy: How His Own Mental Health Journey Equipped Him to Positively Impact Mental Healthcare Today

A Second Opinion with Senator Bill Frist, M.D.

I’m really excited to have my friend and colleague, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy joining me today.

Patrick has used his own personal experience with mental health and addiction to become one of the nation’s most influential advocates to reduce the stigma around mental illness, and to make real change to increase affordable access to care. He’s the co-author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act, the founder of The Kennedy Forum, and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force. The Task Force just released a terrific report on integrating behavioral health treatment into primary care, and we’ve included a link to it in our show notes. Definitely check it out. You’ll want to stay tuned to hear the powerful turning point that changed how Patrick thought about mental health, and we’ll also talk about an exciting company, Psych Hub, that we’re collaborating on today.

Links and more information on issues discussed in our podcast with Rep. Kennedy:

• Read the Bipartisan Policy Center’s new report, “Tackling America’s Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration,” here: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/behavioral-health-2021/ Report is authored by the Task Force Co-Chaired by Rep. Kennedy.

• Find Patrick Kennedy’s book, A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction, here: https://www.amazon.com/Common-Struggle-Personal-Journey-Addiction/dp/0399185712

• Learn more about The Kennedy Forum’s events here: https://www.thekennedyforum.org/events/

• Rep. Kennedy’s latest op-ed is here: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/mental-health-care-must-be-treated-health-care-my-friend-ncna1266861