On November 8th, 2016, the United States elected billionaire real estate developer Donald J. Trump as the 45th president of the United States. Though much focus has been given to his proposals made on the campaign trail, including building a wall around the southern border and repeal of the Affordable Care Act, the topic of mental health has not been brought up much.

The first clue as to what Mr. Trump would like to do with America’s mental health system is nestled in his campaign website under the “Healthcare Reform” section.

“Finally, we need to reform our mental health programs and institutions in this country. Families, without the ability to get the information needed to help those who are ailing, are too often not given the tools to help their loved ones. There are promising reforms being developed in Congress that should receive bi-partisan support.”

The main proposal that Mr. Trump may be referring to in the above is the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, a piece of legislation that would overhaul the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) by creating a National Mental Health Laboratory and the Interagency Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee. Other aspects of the bill include requiring Medicaid to expand coverage to some antidepressants and antipsychotics, and allowing mental health volunteers liability protections. Though the bill had passed the House back in July, it has not been taken up in the Senate yet.

Related to the issue of veteran’s mental health, Donald Trump has expressed interest in creating a division within the VA dedicated exclusively to mental health issues.

The final component of Mr. Trump’s mental healthcare plan is local control. A common trait among Republicans since the “Devolution Revolution” began in the 1980’s, Trump stated in a questionnaire for ScienceDebate that “We must ensure that the national government provides the support to state and local governments to bring mental health care to the people at the local level,”

Given that Trump does not take office until January, most of this article is speculation based on Donald Trump’s previous statements. For this reason, this article will be updated periodically to reflect changing realities.

In our next blog, we will be examining and analyzing the legacy that President Obama has had on the mental healthcare system in the United States