[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 121 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING BIPOC MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

  (Ms. SALINAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize BIPOC Mental 
Health Awareness Month.
  As the co-chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus and as a proud 
Latina myself, I know how important it is to bring culturally relevant, 
multilingual mental health resources directly to our communities.
  Between cultural differences, stigma, and language barriers, it makes 
it so hard for folks to receive potentially lifesaving mental health 
care.
  Growing up, I watched my sister fight her battle in complete silence, 
pushing through her pain until it was so great that she attempted 
suicide, something that no family should ever have to experience.
  Her story is like so many others across the Nation. BIPOC and Tribal 
people face lower rates of mental health treatment yet face higher 
rates of attempted suicide--22 percent for Hispanic and Latino youth.
  This is totally unacceptable, and I am committed to working across 
the aisle to find evidence-based solutions and to prioritize policies 
that will make mental health care more accessible and affordable.
  Not just in July but every single day of the year, we must ensure 
that our BIPOC neighbors and loved ones have access to these resources 
and know that they are not alone in this fight. Together, we will end 
the stigma around mental health and put an end to this crisis.

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