Date of Birth: July 14, 1967
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Biography
Patrick Joseph Kennedy II, born on July 14, 1967, is an American politician and mental health advocate. A member of the prominent Kennedy family, he served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island’s 1st congressional district from 1995 to 2011. Kennedy is the youngest child of Senator Ted Kennedy and Joan Bennett Kennedy, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. During his tenure in Congress, Patrick Kennedy was a vocal advocate for health care reform and mental health issues. He played a key role in the passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which required insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as they do for physical illnesses. After retiring from Congress, he continued his advocacy work, founding The Kennedy Forum, an organization focused on mental health policy and awareness. Kennedy has been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder and addiction, using his personal experiences to inform his public service and advocacy. His work has earned him numerous awards and recognition in the field of mental health.
5 Interesting Facts about Patrick J. Kennedy
1. Patrick Kennedy co-founded One Mind for Research, a global coalition focused on curing brain diseases.
2. He is the author of the memoir “A Common Struggle,” which details his battle with addiction and mental illness.
3. Kennedy is a recipient of the American Psychiatric Association’s Jacob K. Javits Public Service Award.
4. He played a significant role in the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which included funding for mental health and addiction treatment.
5. Patrick Kennedy has given numerous speeches and lectures on mental health policy at universities, conferences, and international forums.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Patrick J. Kennedy
1. “Mental illness is the last great stigma of medicine. We need to treat it like any other illness.”
2. “Recovery is not a destination, but a continuous journey.”
3. “We need to ensure that our mental health care system is as robust as our physical health care system.”
4. “The brain is the last frontier of medicine, and we must invest in its understanding and treatment.”
5. “Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Patrick Kennedy’s highest net worth achieved is estimated to be around $20 million.
Children
Patrick Kennedy and his wife, Amy Petitgout, have three children: Owen, born in 2012, Nora, born in 2013, and Nell, born in 2015.
Relevant Links
1. [The Kennedy Forum](https://www.thekennedyforum.org
2. [Patrick Kennedy’s Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_J._Kennedy
3. [One Mind for Research](https://onemind.org
