Lt. Gov. Burt Jones addresses Mental Health Awareness Month

ATLANTA — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones issued a statement Tuesday on Mental Health Awareness Month and the General Assembly’s efforts to destigmatize mental health and improve access and affordability of quality mental health care services in Georgia.

“The mental health of Georgians is vitally important,” Jones said in a news release. “I am proud of the work we have done in the Senate to address mental health issues within our state, particularly the mental health of children and veterans. I look forward to seeing the progress made in addressing our children’s mental health thanks to Senate Bill 351 as well as the findings and proposed legislation from the Study Committee on Veteran’s Mental Health and Housing.

“Thanks to these initiatives, we can continue to improve the mental health of Georgians by improving access to quality, affordable mental health care and working to reduce the stigma around mental health issues.”

Senate Bill 351 – Enacts reforms to combat cyberbullying, to develop educational programs regarding safe teenage internet and social media use, and to provide for age verification, parental consent, and data privacy for teenage users of social media platforms in order to improve the mental health of Georgia’s children.

The following Senate members will serve on the five-member Senate Study Committee on Veterans’ Mental Health and Housing:

— Sen. Chuck Payne, R-Dalton, – Chairman of the Study Committee

— Sen. Ed Harbison, D-Columbus

— Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs

— Sen. Shawn Still, R-Norcross

— Sen. Rick Williams, R-Milledgeville.