Spectrum News: Senators pass bipartisan resolution to address children’s mental health
By Susan Carpenter
The Bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus passed a resolution Thursday to address children’s mental health.
Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., formed the caucus last year to collaborate on mental health solutions through prevention and early intervention.
“Our country is facing a children’s mental health crisis, and I’m proud to see the Senate come together unanimously to say we need to step up and speak up to find bipartisan solutions to address it head on,” Padilla said in a statement. “Our resolution recognizes the urgent need to provide America’s youth with accessible, humane mental health care — because no one should be forced to suffer in silence.”
Almost half of American adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10- to 14-year-olds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The resolution pushes the federal government to work on increasing awareness of mental health disorders among children and teenagers and to promote proven prevention strategies and treatments.
Recognizing that rural and underserved communities present unique challenges, the resolution also calls for improving access to mental health services for children and teens. Sens. Padilla and Tillis said they would like to see states adopt community-based mental healthcare and reaffirm their commitments to destigmatizing mental health problems.
“More than 40% of teenagers report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and youth suicide attempts, self-injury and drug overdoses are rising,” Bipartisan Policy Center Action President Michele Stockwell said in a statement. “While no single factor is to blame, the acute lack of mental health and substance use treatment options for youth, the rise in social and online media and pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic have played significant roles.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or live chat at 988lifeline.org.
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