APA CEO Norman Anderson, PhD, honored Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), with an award for his support of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, signed into law by President Bush in October. The bill authorizes $82 million for mental and behavioral health services on college campuses.
After the award presentation--held at the education advocacy breakfast at APA's Annual Convention in Honolulu---Davis described how the need for improved mental health services for college students hit home in Congress in 2003 with the suicide of Garrett Lee Smith, the college-age son of Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), for whom the bill is named. His suicide, Davis noted, prompted him and many of his fellow legislators to push for the bill to become law. Davis also urged psychologists to step up their advocacy efforts.
"Become as much of an advocate as you are a psychologist," he stressed. "Keep pushing the agenda--keep pushing it and people will hear you."
--J. CHAMBERLIN