[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 441 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 441
Expressing support for the designation of May 2025 as ``Mental Health
Awareness Month''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 21, 2025
Ms. Salinas (for herself, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Tony Gonzales of
Texas, Ms. McClellan, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Amo, Ms. Pettersen,
Mr. Tonko, Mr. Casten, Mr. Costa, Ms. Sherrill, Ms. Kaptur, Ms.
Randall, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Castro
of Texas, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Garcia of California, Ms. Escobar,
Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Landsman, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Sorensen, Mrs. Watson
Coleman, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Gottheimer, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon,
Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Tokuda, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Norton,
Ms. Balint, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mr. Bera, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Evans
of Pennsylvania, Ms. Matsui, and Mr. Bell) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of May 2025 as ``Mental Health
Awareness Month''.
Whereas Americans across the country continue to confront an ongoing mental
health crisis;
Whereas Americans continue to see increasing reports of loneliness, stress,
anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse;
Whereas the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found
that--
(1) the number of American adults living with a mental illness has
risen from 51,400,000 in 2019 to 58,700,000 in 2023;
(2) 23 percent of Americans over the age of 18 and 34 percent of
Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 have lived with a mental illness
during the past year; and
(3) 12,800,000 adults had serious thoughts of suicide during the past
year;
Whereas an October 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation/CNN Mental Health in America
Survey found that--
(1) 90 percent of the public think that there is a mental health crisis
in the United States today;
(2) 55 percent of the public think that mental health issues in
children and teenagers in the United States today are a crisis;
(3) 47 percent of parents say that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a
negative impact on their child's mental health; and
(4) 51 percent of all adults say they or a family member has
experienced a severe mental health crisis;
Whereas the Stress in America 2023 survey conducted by the American
Psychological Association found that--
(1) 26 percent of adults are so stressed that they struggle to
function;
(2) 47 percent of adults struggle to go to work or attend school
because of stress; and
(3) 58 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 feel
completely overwhelmed by stress every day;
Whereas the 2022 Access to Care Survey conducted by the National Council for
Mental Wellbeing found that--
(1) 2 in 5 Americans reported needing mental health care;
(2) 43 percent of Americans who needed mental health care over the past
12 months did not receive it; and
(3) two-thirds of Americans believe that it is harder to find a mental
health care provider than it is to find a physical health care provider;
Whereas a February 2024 Household Pulse Survey found that 17.7 percent of adults
reported symptoms of anxiety disorder;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
mental health disorders are chronic conditions, and without proper
diagnosis and treatment children can face problems at home and in school
which can interfere with their future development;
Whereas more resources should be dedicated in schools to the prevention, early
detection, and treatment of mental health disorders in children;
Whereas childhood depression is more likely to persist into adulthood if it is
left untreated;
Whereas it is important that the United States provide the necessary funding and
resources to reach children and youth early on in life;
Whereas the October 10, 2024, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found
that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were common among adolescents,
with approximately three in four students experiencing one or more ACEs
and approximately one in five students experiencing four or more ACEs
and that these experiences contribute substantially to numerous health
conditions and risk behaviors in adolescence;
Whereas the May 12, 2023, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that
between 2020 and 2023, the number of pediatric emergency department
visits associated with mental health conditions increased and was most
pronounced in girls between the ages of 12 and 17;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of digital technologies,
such as any social media;
Whereas there has been a great concern about the impact of social media on the
mental health of children and youth;
Whereas social media does expose children to bullying, depression, anxiety, and
self-harm;
Whereas there is a strong need to further understand and deter any negative
impacts of social media on children and youth;
Whereas the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report:
2013-2023, found that--
(1) nearly 3 in 5 teenage girls in the United States felt persistently
sad or hopeless in 2021, which is double that of boys and the highest level
reported in decades;
(2) 30 percent of teenage girls in the United States seriously
considered attempting suicide in the past year;
(3) youth experienced high and worsening levels of persistent sadness
or hopelessness across all racial and ethnics groups; and
(4) 40 percent of high school students felt so sad or hopeless almost
every day for at least 2 weeks in a row that they stopped doing their usual
activities;
Whereas the CDC's Youth Risk Behavioral Survey Data Summary and Trends Report:
2013-2023, found that--
(1) 31 percent of heterosexual high school students and 65 percent of
LGBTQ+ high school students felt persistent feelings of sadness or
hopelessness during 2023;
(2) 11 percent of heterosexual high school students and 32 percent of
LGBTQ+ high school students made a suicide plan during the last 12 months;
and
(3) 6 percent of heterosexual high school students and 20 percent of
LGBTQ+ high school students actually attempted suicide during the last 12
months;
Whereas, according to the 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health
conducted by The Trevor Project, 50 percent of LGBTQ youth who wanted
mental health care in the past year were not able to get it and 39
percent of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide over this
same time period;
Whereas disparities remain in access to mental health treatment for communities
of color, with Asian, Native American, Hispanic, and Black individuals
less likely to receive mental health care than their White counterparts;
Whereas a July 2021 survey conducted by the National Council for Mental
Wellbeing found that from July 2020 to July 2021--
(1) 46 percent of Black adults say they are experiencing more stress
and mental health challenges, but just 21 percent say they have received
treatment or care of any kind for their mental health;
(2) 45 percent of Native American adults have experienced more stress
and mental health challenges, but only 24 percent have received treatment
for mental health;
(3) 42 percent of Hispanic adults report experiencing more stress and
mental health challenges, but just 26 percent say they have received
treatment for mental health;
(4) 40 percent of Asian adults say they are experiencing more stress
and mental health challenges, but just 11 percent say they have received
treatment or care of any kind; and
(5) almost half (47 percent) of all adults surveyed stated that the
cost of help or treatment is an obstacle in seeking treatment for their
mental health;
Whereas, in 2021, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that over half of White,
Hispanic, and Black adults say that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a
negative impact on their mental health;
Whereas suicide is a significant public health issue that can have an enduring
impact on individuals and their communities;
Whereas additional resources should be dedicated to the prevention of suicide in
the United States;
Whereas, according to the CDC, the overall suicide rate in the United States
increased by 30 percent between 2000 and 2020;
Whereas, according to the CDC, the total number of deaths by suicide in the
United States increased by 2.6 percent between 2021 and 2022;
Whereas provisional data published by the CDC in November 2023 found that--
(1) suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States;
and
(2) the number of suicides was 3 percent higher in 2022 than it was in
2021;
Whereas veterans are more likely to experience mental health challenges than
nonveterans;
Whereas it is important that the United States provide additional funding and
resources to support veterans with mental health needs;
Whereas the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report found that--
(1) 6,392 veterans died by suicide in 2021, which is a daily average of
17.5;
(2) the suicide rate for veterans was 71.8 percent greater than for
nonveteran United States adults; and
(3) the suicide rate was highest among veterans between the ages of 18
and 34; and
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2025 as ``Mental Health Awareness
Month'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``Mental Health Awareness
Month'' to remove the stigma associated with mental illness and
place emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental health
recovery;
(2) declares mental health a national priority;
(3) supports the expansion of funding for mental health
services;
(4) recognizes that mental well-being is equally as
important as physical well-being for citizens, communities,
schools, businesses, and the economy in the United States;
(5) applauds the coalescing of national, State, local,
medical, and faith-based organizations in working to promote
public awareness of mental health and providing critical
information and supports to individuals and families affected
by mental illness; and
(6) encourages all to draw on Mental Health Awareness Month
as an opportunity to promote mental well-being and awareness,
ensure access to appropriate coverage and services, and support
an overall quality of life for those living with mental
illness.
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