Bill > HR6226

This bill seeks to address mental health challenges among Hispanic and Latino youth by establishing a comprehensive national awareness and outreach campaign. The bill recognizes that Hispanic and Latino youth face significant mental health disparities, including higher rates of toxic stress, adverse childhood experiences, poor mental health reporting, and lower rates of mental health service utilization. The legislation mandates a multi-faceted approach, including conducting a preliminary study on previous mental health campaigns, developing culturally and linguistically competent awareness and outreach strategies, and creating targeted educational materials. The campaign will focus on increasing awareness about mental health symptoms, combating stigma, providing mental health first aid training, hosting workshops, establishing school and community partnerships, and offering mental health screenings. Additionally, the bill requires two separate studies: one examining the mental health crisis among Hispanic and Latino youth, including suicide rates and treatment accessibility, and another investigating the mental health professional workforce shortage within this community. The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2026-2030 for the awareness campaign and $1 million each for the two required studies, with the ultimate goal of improving mental health outcomes and reducing stigma for Hispanic and Latino youth.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6226/all-info