Arizona Representative Ron Barber is being honored by a national group for his work on mental health issues. Barber will give remarks today at a ceremony where he will be named a Legislator of the Year by the National Council for Behavioral Health.
Barber is one of six members of Congress – three from the House and three from the Senate – to be named Legislators of the Year by the National Council for Behavioral Health.
“Representative Barber’s genuine community focus and congressional leadership have positively influenced the national discussion on behavioral health,” said Neal Cash, CEO and President of the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona. “His remarkable efforts have diminished stigma, made treatment more accessible and given the hope of recovery to millions of Americans.”
Barber has introduced the bipartisan Mental Health First Aid Act, which will provide education to increase public awareness of mental illness symptoms and services available by training teachers, students, firefighters, police officers, emergency services workers and members of the general public.