‘I’m forcing that conversation’: Congressman talks about mental health after Capitol attack

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After the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Colorado Congressman Jason Crow (D-Aurora) is offering himself up as a sounding board to talk about the mental health implications of the siege.

In the days following the Jan. 6 attack, Aurora Democrat shared mental health resources on Twitter, advising people present that day to be mindful that no one is immune from the effects of trauma, and offered to talk with anyone who needs it:

“I've been amazed by the number of people who have actually taken me up on that,” Rep. Crow told Rocky Mountain PBS in a remote interview from Washington Thursday. “Members of Congress, journalists, police officers.”

“I've had a number of conversations with Capitol Police, pretty long conversations, actually,” he said. “What's great about those is they're not conversations between a member of Congress and a member of the Capitol Police … it’s just Jason Crow and whoever I'm talking to.”

Rep. Crow said he expects those conversations will continue for months, and recalled his own experience being trapped in the House chamber during the attack by what he called a “violent mob” of “terrorists.”

“Never in a million years would have guessed that I would have to defend my life, and that my life would have been in danger the way that it was on January 6th. I haven't felt that way in over 15 years, not since I was an Army Ranger and I was serving in a war zone in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Rep. Crow said.

“That's a traumatic experience for everybody... not knowing whether or not we would leave that chamber,” he said. “Giving people permission, giving them license to step up and seek the resources and the help that they need is really important.”

“There's so much stigma around mental health and trauma in our country, and it's really one of the single biggest barriers for people getting the care they need,” Crow said. ”So I'm forcing that conversation, because of the unique circumstances that occurred on January 6th.”

Crow said he has been impressed by the mental health resources that have been provided so far for those present for the attack.

The congressman, who voted to impeach President Donald Trump last week, is pushing for answers about the security breach at the Capitol. He also said he believes the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden Wednesday will be secure.

“I felt safe before January 6th. I had confidence in the security infrastructure of the Capitol. It turns out that confidence was misplaced. So all of the members of Congress are now going through a process of rebuilding that confidence,” he said. “We are on the path that we need to be on to ensure safety and security, and we are definitely going to be there. And it definitely will be a safe inauguration.”

"I'm going to be sitting there on that platform, showing the American people and the world that we are strong and that democracy will prevail," Crow said.