Urge Your Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor the Youth Mental Health Research Act!

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Urge Your Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor the Youth Mental Health Research Act!

Data from SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate adolescent mental health challenges continue to increase. Research shows that children are three times less likely to obtain treatment for mental health concerns compared to physical health concerns, indicating significant gaps in care and support.

In order to fill these gaps and better address the needs of young people, a broader, more collaborative research approach is needed to advance education, support, help-seeking, and connection. Ending the youth mental health crisis requires solutions based on evidence from both basic and applied research.

The Youth Mental Health Research Act is a bipartisan bill authorizing $100 million for the National Institute of Mental Health to establish a Youth Mental Health Research Initiative that will attract quality scientists and produce lasting results that can be used to scale interventions that work and eliminate investments that have proven to be ineffective.

Please join Mental Health America in sending a message to your members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor this important legislation.

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Urge Your Members of Congress to Invest in Sustainable Funding for Mental Health in FY 2024

MHA affiliates are meeting with congressional offices on Wednesday, March 8th, to elevate the needs of individuals on the ground and request funding increases for states and for federal programs that promote mental health and crisis response. We are also seeking additional coverage of peer specialists in Medicare.

Last year, we saw unprecedented investment in mental health programs and services by Congress. But, many officials think they are done. Help us make them understand that one-time funding just won’t cut it.

As our country faces continued impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we ask you to send a letter to your elected officials in support of: prevention and early intervention in the Mental Health Block Grant, youth-focused initiatives at the CDC, peer support coverage in Medicare, and 988 operations and education.

Please take action now!

Members of Congress in your state

Subject: Constituent Request: Co-Sponsor the Youth Mental Health Research Act!

Message:

As your constituent, I am asking that you do all you can to help our nation advance research on youth mental health interventions, including becoming a co-sponsor of S.3060/H.R.5976, the Youth Mental Health Research Act, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Katie Britt in the Senate and by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick in the House of Representatives. Data from SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate adolescent mental health challenges continue to increase. 1 in 5 youth experienced depressive symptoms, nearly 75 percent of whom had severe impairment, indicating problems with their ability to do chores at home, do well at work or school, get along with their family, or have a social life. According to a separate NORC study, children were three times less likely to obtain treatment for mental health concerns compared to physical health concerns. School personnel are overwhelmed with children experiencing apathy, hopelessness, anxiety, and thoughts of death and have made student mental health a top advocacy priority. Gaps in access to care, acute workforce shortages, and coverage issues all impact children’s ability to connect to clinical services. However, the majority of 14–18-year-olds surveyed through Mental Health America’s screening program in 2020 indicated that tools to better manage their own mental health and support from other people their age were top priorities of interest to help address their current mental health challenges. In order to fill gaps in care and better address the needs of young people, a broader, more collaborative research approach is needed to build out non-clinical interventions that advance education, support, help-seeking, and connection. Ending the youth mental health crisis requires solutions based on evidence from both basic and applied research. Significant, long-term funding for a youth research initiative will attract quality scientists and produce lasting results that can be used to scale what works and eliminate investments that are proven not to work. This research should include studies on youth peer support – a SAMHSA-recognized practice that is shown to improve community inclusion and reduce hospitalizations, and an identified priority area for young people themselves. That is why I am asking you to co-sponsor bipartisan, bicameral legislation authorizing $100 million in funding for the National Institutes of Health. Thank you for taking immediate action to address the mental health crisis in young people by co-sponsoring S.3060/H.R.5976, the Youth Mental Health Research Act.

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