Senate advances Tillis’ resolution addressing youth mental healthcare crisis

The U.S. Senate on July 24 passed a bipartisan resolution by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) that aims to address the nation’s acute lack of mental health and substance use treatment options for youth. The measure now advances to the U.S. House of Representatives for action.

“We owe it to the next generation to prioritize mental health care and ensure that quality mental health services are both widely available and easily accessible,” Sen. Tillis said. 

The United States is in the midst of a youth mental health and addiction crisis, according to Michele Stockwell, president of the Bipartisan Policy Center Action, who said more than 40 percent of teenagers report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and youth suicide attempts, self-injury, and drug overdoses are increasing. 

Sen. Tillis and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), co-founders of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, proposed Senate Resolution (S.Res.) 769 to highlight this mental healthcare crisis and the urgent need to increase the nation’s investment in mental health care for children and adolescents.

If enacted, S.Res. 769 would resolve that the federal government must work collaboratively to encourage states, local educational agencies, schools, and community organizations to support children, youth, and students experiencing mental health challenges at all grade levels by:

• Improving the professional development given to educators; 
• Recognizing that young children often go misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or face stigma when it comes to mental health disorders, and therefore lack adequate services and support when dealing with mental health challenges and crises; 
• Raising awareness for high-quality school- and campus-based mental health services that are evidence-based and trauma-informed; and 
• Evaluating the preservation of continuity of care for students whose treatment is interrupted, according to the text of the resolution.

Additionally, the resolution would recognize the urgency for increasing public knowledge of mental health disorders by encouraging federal, state, and local institutions to disseminate robust resources regarding the effects and available treatment options for various mental health disorders, among other provisions.

“The mental health challenges faced by our youth today are staggering, but together, we can equip them with the necessary resources and support services to thrive now and in the future,” said Sen. Tillis.