Congressional Hearing on Senior Depression


Senator John Breaux (D-LA) and Donna Cohen, PhD., Univ. of South Florida	Jane Pearson, PhD, NIMH

On July 28, Senator John Breaux (D-LA) chaired a hearing entitled, "Senior Depression: Life-Saving Mental Health Treatments for Older Americans" before the Senate Special Committee on Aging. Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and Harry Reid (D-NV) were also in attendance at this committee's first hearing since 1996 focusing on mental health and aging issues. APA briefing materials on mental health and aging issues were made available to congressional offices and members of the public.

The expert panel included two psychologists and APA members, Donna Cohen, Ph.D., Department of Aging and Mental Health, University of South Florida, and Jane Pearson, Ph.D., Associate Director for Preventive Interventions at National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Cohen presented compelling testimony related to elder homicide and suicide, while Dr. Pearson highlighted current NIMH funded research on depression and suicide among older Americans. Additional panelists included Ira Katz, M.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Diana Waugh, an older adult mental health consumer representing the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; and Hickmah Gardiner, an older adult mental health consumer recommended by our Public Policy Office to Senator Breaux's staff.

The Public Policy Office extended our support to both of the psychologists on the panel in the weeks prior to the hearing. In particular, we worked closely with Dr. Cohen throughout the process by sharing APA aging policy resources, holding a briefing luncheon before the hearing, and delivering her testimony to Senator Breaux's office.