Recognizing the continuing disparities in Black youth mental health access and treatment.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 764 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 764

  Recognizing the continuing disparities in Black youth mental health 
                         access and treatment.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 23, 2025

 Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Thompson 
  of Mississippi, Mr. Fields, Ms. Norton, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. 
Figures, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Thanedar, 
    Mr. Cohen, Mr. Carson, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. 
Cleaver, Mr. Bell, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, 
   and Mr. Espaillat) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the continuing disparities in Black youth mental health 
                         access and treatment.

Whereas September is National Suicide Prevention Month;
Whereas suicide is the third leading cause of death for 14- to 18-year-olds;
Whereas the suicide rate among Black adolescents is increasing faster than other 
        racial and ethnic groups;
Whereas, from 2007 to 2023, the suicide rate rose 149 percent for Black 
        adolescents age 10 to 17;
Whereas, in 2023, 1 in 5 Black high school students reported having seriously 
        considered attempting suicide in the past year;
Whereas that same year nearly 16 percent of those students made a suicide plan, 
        and 10.3 percent reported attempting suicide;
Whereas nearly 2 percent of Black high school students required medical 
        attention as a result of their suicide attempt;
Whereas, while the overall youth suicide rate is trending downwards, the suicide 
        rate for Black youth is showing a rise in most data;
Whereas Black adolescents are significantly less likely than peers in other 
        demographic groups to receive mental healthcare;
Whereas, in 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus established the Emergency Task 
        Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health to investigate the 
        alarming rate of Black youth suicide;
Whereas the Task Force held hearings, forums, events, and listening sessions to 
        identify both the causes and potential solutions to this burgeoning 
        crisis;
Whereas, with the help of a working group of experts in the field of mental 
        health research and policy, the Task Force published a report entitled 
        ``Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America'';
Whereas the report made several recommendations to address the growing 
        disparities in mental healthcare for Black youth, including--

    (1) increasing the amount of research into topics relating to Black 
youth mental health and suicide at the National Institute of Health (NIH) 
and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH);

    (2) increasing funding and resources for Black researchers who focused 
on these topics;

    (3) funding and demonstrating evidence-based interventions targeting 
Black youth suicidal behaviors and depression in schools and other 
settings, including through government programs, public-private 
partnerships, and in collaboration with faith-based organizations;

    (4) promoting the best and most promising practices that address the 
needs of Black youth; and

    (5) establishing and funding an awareness campaign about Black youth 
suicidal behaviors;

Whereas, during the last administration, many positive developments took place, 
        including the introduction of the 988 Lifeline, increased research and 
        support to address the disparities in Black youth mental health, and 
        increased funding in mental health programs that support children and 
        adolescents;
Whereas, under the current administration, much of that progress has been 
        reversed through cuts to research grants, termination of mental health 
        services to schools, and the elimination of any reference or association 
        with minority mental health;
Whereas mental health is, and should remain, a non-partisan issue that needs the 
        full support of the United States Congress; and
Whereas the benefits of what was achieved since the release of the ``Ring the 
        Alarm'' report must be protected, and the Federal Government must 
        continue addressing disparities in mental healthcare: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the continuing disparities in Black youth 
        mental health access and treatment;
            (2) calls on the current administration to address these 
        disparities by continuing the work of the previous 
        administration and incorporating recommendations from ``Ring 
        the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America'';
            (3) recognizes the importance of creating conversations in 
        Black communities regarding mental health, encouraging 
        individuals to seek help to prevent suicide and suicide 
        attempts, and providing education programming, such as L.E.T.S. 
        Save Lives, to reduce cultural stigma, foster conversations 
        about mental health, and raise awareness of suicide prevention;
            (4) calls for increased funding for all programs supporting 
        mental health; and
            (5) supports the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service 
        Administration (SAMHSA) remaining an independent agency and not 
        being absorbed into the Administration for a Healthy America 
        (AHA).
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