This bill would create a national awareness and outreach campaign focused on mental health for Hispanic and Latino youth. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study past campaigns, then develop a culturally and linguistically competent campaign for youth, parents, caregivers, teachers, school staff, and school clinics. The campaign would include materials, workshops, youth mental health first aid training, partnerships with local and State agencies, on-site mental health screenings and consultations, and links to the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Hotline. The bill also requires two studies and reports to Congress — one on the Hispanic and Latino youth mental health crisis (covering prevalence, suicide, treatment use, and crisis services) and one on the Hispanic and Latino mental health workforce (counting providers, languages, education enrollment, and practice settings). Data collected must be disaggregated by factors such as race, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and region. Many Federal health and education offices and agencies are named for coordination or consultation. Reports and some studies must be completed within one year after enactment.
If you are a Hispanic or Latino youth, a parent, caregiver, teacher, school staff member, or work with youth-serving programs, the bill would direct new outreach and training aimed at increasing awareness of mental health signs, reducing stigma, offering culturally tailored resources, and providing local workshops, screenings, and training. The bill targets schools, community centers, and similar sites for activities. No publicly available information on the number of people who would be reached or exact local programs to be created.
The bill authorizes specific funding amounts in the text: $5,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to carry out the national campaign. It also authorizes $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out the study and report on the Hispanic and Latino youth mental health crisis, and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out the workforce shortage study. No publicly available information on other costs, savings, or budgetary effects beyond these authorized amounts.
The bill text includes findings that supporters use to justify the proposal: it states that Hispanic and Latino youth often face prolonged stress, high rates of adverse childhood experiences, higher reported poor mental health and suicidal thoughts compared to peers, and lower use of mental health services. The text cites language, cultural, insurance, and education barriers as factors that reduce access to care and concludes that increased awareness and outreach are vital.
No publicly available information.