For former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, advocating for mental health care is part of his family's legacy.

His uncle, President John F. Kennedy, signed the bill that established the nation's community-based mental health care system.

Ali Roggan sat down with Patrick Kennedy to discuss his new book, which details the mental health struggles of everyday Americans.

The U.S. has long been in a mental health crisis that experts say has only gotten worse in recent

years.

More than one in five adults deal with mental illness, but there's still a stigma around openly

talking about it.

Patrick J. Kennedy's new book is called Profiles in Mental Health Courage.

The title pays homage to his uncle's book, which profiled American political leaders.

This collection of profiles features the mental

health journeys of people from around the country.

Patrick Kennedy, thank you for being here.

So good to be here.

What made you want to write this book?

Well, I remember when Simone Biles wasn't able to complete the

Olympics competition and everybody was like why can't you get on that balance

beam and she said I have to protect my mental health. But really

we don't have a good understanding about what that means because we don't have anybody who tells

their full story. I've told a story, but frankly, we all kind of whitewash it a little bit and make it pretty

so that people who are still in the middle of it don't see themselves reflected in any of the public

narratives because let's be honest these are messy complex illnesses and we

like finite very linear description And we know all the

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