Rep. Seth Moulton: Mental Health in America

“When he went to the VA to get help, they told him that their next mental health appointment was in 3 months—even though he was thinking of committing suicide that very night. That’s unacceptable.”

Rep. Seth Moulton has represented Massachusetts’s 6th congressional district since 2015. Prior to being elected to Congress, Mr. Moulton served in the United States Marine Corps and completed four tours in Iraq. While in Congress, Rep. Moulton has been vocal on a number of issues from guns to improving mental healthcare for veterans. He has also been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump. In 2018, Rep. Moulton also gained attention for suggesting Democrats consider an alternative to Rep. Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House. Rep. Moulton announced his candidacy for President of the United States on April 22nd. In this written interview, Rep. Moulton answers Merion West’s questions about mental health issues currently facing the United States, a pillar of Rep. Moulton’s presidential campaign.

How has the issue of mental health been treated by previous candidates, of either party, running for president?

We’ve never had a real conversation around mental health in America. Whether in politics or everyday life, civilian life or military life, we need to come together and end the stigma surrounding mental health—and that begins by sharing our own stories. I hope telling my own story of living with post-traumatic stress opens the door for discussions about the importance of mental healthcare in this country.