Saturday, September 20, 2014

Whitfield recognized for mental health support - Bowling Green Daily News: News


Posted: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 8:33 am
Ed WhitfieldFRANKLIN — U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville, on Tuesday received the legislator of the year award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Kentucky.  

Local NAMI Chapter Pleased with KY Congressman Whitfield for Cosponsoring H.R. 3717



NAMI-chapter-ple

Jim and Brenda Benson, second and third from left, were among several members of Kentucky NAMI chapters to present Kentucky 1st District U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield with the NAMI Kentucky Legislator of the Year award for his dedication to the cause and co-sponsorship of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. (lr) Bobby Vaughn (NAMI of Bowling Green), Jim Benson and Brenda Benson (NAMI of Murray), Larry Gregory (NAMI of Bowling Green) and Congressman Whitfield.

SurfKY News, Information provided by Kyser Lough

MURRAY, Ky. (9/20/14) — Kentucky First District U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, a co-sponsor of HR 3717, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, was recently awarded the National Alliance on Mental Illness Kentucky Legislator of the Year award.

For Brenda Benson and others in the local NAMI Support Group, this award represents a step in the right direction for mental health care.
“We are pleased to have a representative in Congress who understands the importance of helping people with a mental illness,” Benson said. “The state of our country’s mental health system is broken and this bill will begin the process of repairing that system. This bill will open up access to services for those living with a severe and persistent mental illness and will also allow families/caregivers to become a part of the treatment team.”