Mental health insurance championed by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone may finally become a reality this week — long overdue coverage for the millions of U.S. citizens who are diagnosed with the many forms of mental illness.

Congress may pass the legislation to require equal health insurance coverage for both mental and physical illnesses when policies cover both — mental parity.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness: “The World Health Organization has reported that four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S. and other developed countries are mental disorders. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.”

For those suffering from this debilitating condition — which knows no boundaries of race, gender or age — medications and counseling are often beneficial to lead a full, productive life.

Mental illness needs to be not only recognized but treated as a medical condition.