Which Government Programs Could Best Improve The US's Mental-Health Crisis?

Health care in the United States has long been a hotly debated topic - yet, when it comes to mental health care, the conversation quickly goes quiet. With rates of depression and suicide steadily increasing alongside instances of gun violence, the national conversation around mental health is only becoming more essential. 

In fact, according to the CDC, nearly 45,000 people died as a result of suicide in 2017 alone, and what's all the more troubling is that in many of those cases the individuals had not been previously diagnosed with a mental health condition. With mental health concerns finding themselves at the forefront of numerous social debates, it has become evident that this is a crisis that can no longer be put on the back burner by elected officials and policy makers.

So, this raises the question: what is the root of this mental health crisis, and, better yet, what can elected officials and community organizations do to better support individuals in need, and help provide care before it is too late? 

Which programs do you think could provide the greatest aid to individuals in crisis, and have the potential to make a positive, long-term impact on the mental health of individuals across the nation?