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

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).