[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 235 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 235

Supporting the designation of the week of May 7, 2023, as ``Children's 
Mental Health Awareness Week'' and May 11, 2023, as ``Children's Mental 
                        Health Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 1, 2023

   Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Padilla) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the designation of the week of May 7, 2023, as ``Children's 
Mental Health Awareness Week'' and May 11, 2023, as ``Children's Mental 
                        Health Awareness Day''.

Whereas children in the United States have been documented to have undergone an 
        acute public health crisis of mental and behavioral health for many 
        years, even before the additional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas a 2022 study found as many as 1 in 5 children in the United States have 
        a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on survey data 
        from the Youth Risk behavior survey, estimate that, in 2021, more than 4 
        in 10 (42 percent) high school students felt persistently sad or 
        hopeless, and nearly 1 in 3 (29 percent) experienced poor mental health;
Whereas, in 2019, according to the Census Bureau, over 11 percent of children 
        aged 3 to 17 received treatment or counseling from a mental health 
        professional;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide 
        is--

    (1) the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 14;

    (2) the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 24; 
and

    (3) the tenth leading cause of death for individuals aged 5 to 9;

Whereas there has been a significant increase in demand for mental health 
        services for children, including a more than 30 percent increase in 
        mental health visits to emergency departments for children aged 12 to 17 
        from 2019 to April 2020;
Whereas barriers exist to access to mental health delivery systems, particularly 
        impacting children and adults who have been exposed to adverse childhood 
        experiences; and
Whereas the stigma surrounding mental and behavioral health persists, and 
        acknowledging this public health crisis and creating awareness as early 
        as possible is as important as ever: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the importance of connecting children with 
        appropriate mental and behavioral health services and supports;
            (2) seeks to create awareness for the additional challenges 
        children and their families have faced during the COVID-19 
        pandemic due to isolation from family and peers, barriers to 
        services, and exposure to traumas;
            (3) supports programs and services aimed at providing 
        access to care, building resiliency, and addressing trauma; and
            (4) shows appreciation and gratitude for family members, 
        friends, educators, mental and behavioral health service 
        providers, and others in their support for the mental health 
        and well-being of children.
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