Bill > HR2904

This bill addresses mental health issues for youth, particularly those from racial and ethnic minority groups, through several key provisions. The bill establishes a grant program that gives special consideration to entities serving high proportions of racial and ethnic minority populations, and increases funding from $60 million to $80 million annually from 2026 to 2031. It mandates a comprehensive research study by the National Academies of Sciences to identify mental health disparities among minority groups, examining the prevalence of mental health outcomes and the impact of factors like community violence and structural bias. The bill also focuses on improving health professionals' training by creating best practices and core competencies for addressing mental health disparities, involving experts from various health professions schools. Additionally, the legislation requires the development of an outreach and education strategy to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma within racial and ethnic minority communities, ensuring culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches. The bill provides significant funding increases for the National Institutes of Health ($150 million annually) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities ($750 million annually) to support research and community engagement, with a specific focus on understanding and addressing youth mental health disparities.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2904/all-info