Patrick Kennedy is a well-known mental health advocate and former U.S. Representative. He served in the House of Representatives for 16 years, representing Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, where he worked to fight discrimination against mental illness and addiction. Patrick is recognized for sponsoring the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires insurance companies to treat mental health and addiction disorders equally to physical illnesses. During his time in Congress, he wrote and supported many bills aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including the Positive Aging Act and the COMBAT PTSD Act. After leaving Congress in 2011, Patrick focused on mental health advocacy. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a non-profit organization that aims to improve mental health and addiction care by promoting the Federal Parity Law. Patrick also co-founded One Mind, which pushes for more global investment in brain research. He is involved with Psych Hub, an online platform for mental health education, and co-chairs the Action Alliance’s National Response to COVID-19, which coordinates mental health and suicide prevention efforts. Additionally, he co-chairs the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force. In 2017, he was appointed to the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, where he advocated for a federal emergency declaration and better enforcement of parity laws. Patrick co-authored the New York Times bestseller A Common Struggle, sharing his personal journey and providing a roadmap for achieving health equity in the U.S. His work has greatly advanced mental health awareness and equality.