A Letter to a Legislator
June 15, 2023
The Honorable Nanette Barragán
2312 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-8220
Dear Congresswoman Nanette Barragán,
I am Belay Cantos, a registered nurse in California State. I am writing to you with regard to Bill S. 462: Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2023. I am in support of the bill and would kindly request you to commit to supporting it as well. It is a fact, as with other nursing fields, that there is a growing shortage of mental health professionals at a time when the United States is facing a mental health crisis (The White House, 2023), especially in the post-COVID-19 period and following disruptions to mental health care access (World Health Organization, 2020). Our assignment writing help is at affordable prices to students of all academic levels and disciplines.
Being an RN in California has exposed me to the reality of the mental health crisis in the U.S. and the mismatch between the available mental health professionals and the demand for mental health services. Although not a specialist in the field, I am forced to attend to patients who come to our facility searching for mental health care. The patients have to wait for long periods for their appointments to be honoured regardless of the urgency of need. The reason is, that we only have about 35 publicly accessible mental health experts serving a community of over 8,000 people with varying degrees of need. Professionals like me are interested in pursuing a career in the field but are tied down by our unpaid student loans.
The long wait times due to lack of professionals make it worse for the patients. At the same time, the high demand is straining the available mental health workers and a majority have shown intentions to leave. This will further worsen the already broken mental health care delivery system. The S. 462 Bill provides a possible solution that can encourage more professionals to consider advancing their education and skills in the field and improve access to mental health services for our communities.
If you may find you oppose the bill, I would appreciate it if you provide your specific reasons for such a position.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Jane Do, RN
California
References
The White House. (2023, March 1). FACT SHEET: President Biden to Announce Strategy to Address Our National Mental Health Crisis, As Part of Unity Agenda in His First State of the Union. BRIEFING ROOM STATEMENTS AND RELEASES. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/01/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-announce-strategy-to-address-our-national-mental-health-crisis-as-part-of-unity-agenda-in-his-first-state-of-the-union/
World Health Organisation. (2020). COVID-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries, WHO survey. World Health Organization. https://friends-project.eu/media/who_int_news_item_05_10_2020_covid_19_disrupting_mental_health_services_in_most_countries_who_survey.pdf
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Question 
Public policy has a major impact on your practice and your patients. Advocacy is an expectation of the advanced practice nurse. Elected officials care about what their constituents have to say. To make a difference, you need to be informed and engaged. Contacting your legislator and discussing issues is an important attribute of nurse leaders. In your interactions with lawmakers, you want to be positive and nonpartisan, personal, persistent, patient, focused on your message, and provide accurate information.
A Letter to a Legislator
Directions
1. Determine the issue or message (e.g., telehealth impact on your practice) you wish to discuss with your legislator(s). Resource: The American Nurses Association Federal Legislative Priorities for 2019.
2. Identify your legislator and contact information from his or her website and/or search here.
3. Choose one method of Advocacy: Face-to-Face or Letter/ Email.
Advocacy Option #2:
• Letter or Email: The student must write three (3) letters or emails or a combination of letters/emails to their identified legislators (State and/or Federal). The letters/emails may be the same topic to three different legislators or three different topics to three different legislators. Legislators read correspondence, especially when it is personalized and clearly from a constituent. The following guidelines should be used when writing to your representative:
1. Be brief (one page or less), and use your own words.
2. Begin with the appropriate heading and address.
3. Be specific: State the specific bill number and issue and state your opinion in the first sentence.
4. Relate your experience with the issue. Use personal examples when possible. Your interest and concern about the issue is important.
5. Ask the legislator to specifically commit to supporting or opposing the legislation you are writing about.
6. Ask for specific reasons they are supporting or opposing the proposal.
7. Sign and print your name and include your address and other contact information.
8. If you have pertinent materials and/or editorials from local papers, include them.
9. Cite any references at the end of the letter or email using APA format.