U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), George Voinovich (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and John Jerry (D-MA) announced the bi-partisan ENHANCED Act to establish national centers of excellence for the treatment of depression and bipolar disorders. These centers will create a national network to help diagnose people in need and improve access to quality evidence-based care.

In a press release from Debbie Stabenow’s office, “Depression and bipolar disorders affect one of every five people in the United States. Unfortunately, nearly half of all diagnoses are missed,” said Senator Stabenow. “This legislation will provide direct federal support to better treat people with depression and bipolar disorders. It will save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans.”

More Americans suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders than from coronary heart disease and cancer combined. Yet with medication, therapy, or combined treatment, most disorders can be effectively treated. Yet an estimated one-third of those suffering from depression do not receive treatment because they cannot afford it, don’t know where to go, or are afraid of societal judgement.

Depression also has a significant economic impact, the estimated cost to the United States due to reduced productivity, absenteeism, and mortality is $83 billion anually.

This legislation is based on efforts started by the University of Michigan Depression Center with 15 other leading academic medical centers across the nation. Together, these universities created a network of depression centers positioned to take academic research and translate it into practice to more effectively treat and prevent recurrences of depression and bipolar disorders.

The ENHANCED Act of 2009 will:

1. Create a national network with a pathway for developing and expanding up to 30 depression centers of excellence in order to increase to the most appropriate and evidence-based care.

2. Develop evidence-based treatment standards, clinical guidelines, and protocols to improve accurate and timely diagnosis of depression and bipolar disorders.

3. Expand multidisciplinary, translational, and patient-oriented research by fostering the collaboration of academic and community-based service centers.

4. Establish a sustainable national resource for public and professional education and training, to advance knowledge and eradicate the stigma associated with depression and other mood disorders.

The ENHANCED Act comes at an especially critical time, during the recovery from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. During these times of economic uncertainty, rates of depression and suicide tend to climb and the ENHANCED Act may be the safety net many people are searching for.