Recent Federal Efforts to Expand Mental and Behavioral Services and Implications for Black Youth

On May 18, 2023, in honor of Mental Health Day of Action and Mental Health Awareness Month, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new action steps to address the nation’s mental health crisis.34 The actions included investing 200 million dollars towards the improvement of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline while also investing in mental health services in schools.35 The announcement and action steps are centered around three objectives: strengthening the mental health workforce and system capacity, connecting more Americans to care, and creating a continuum of support.36

Strengthening the mental health workforce and system capacity objectively aims to increase the size of the behavioral health workforce and increase diversity in the workforce.37 One of the barriers to Black youth receiving care is the lack of diverse mental and behavioral health providers. Increasing the diversity in providers will allow Black youth the opportunity to access culturally competent care and receive services from individuals that look like them. The connecting more Americans to care objective is centered around making it easier for Americans to find help while creating more avenues for students to obtain mental and behavioral health services in school. 38 Expanding mental and behavioral services in schools brings the services to youth directly, which could be a significant step in Black youth receiving care.

On May 22, 2023, Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA-6) introduced a bipartisan resolution, H.Res.434 - Declaring a mental health crisis among youth in the United States and expressing the pressing need for historic investments in mental health care for students. The resolution suggests that states, local agencies, schools, and community organizations support students impacted by mental health by improving training for educators (recognizing that some youth have mis- or undiagnosed mental health disorders) and working to understand the unique challenges of lower-income students.39

CO-SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION, CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON (D-NJ-12) SAID

“One of our primary responsibilities as both parents and members of Congress is to protect the wellbeing of our children. While chairing the [Congressional Black Caucus] CBC’s Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, I saw firsthand the devastating impact our mental health crisis has had on our nation’s youth and the loved ones of those suffering and those lost to suicide… We must take steps right now to help our young people and save lives.”40

The resolution impacts Black youth by acknowledging that youth around America are facing a mental health crisis and creating a call for action for investments to improve mental health conditions for youth. The resolution addresses that some youth have misor undiagnosed mental health disorders, which causes a lack of adequate support and resources for youth.41 Providers, caregivers, educators, and industry professionals at times fail to realize that mental and behavioral conditions may appear or be presented differently among youth of different races, backgrounds, and ethnicities.42 Black youth are mis- or undiagnosed when it comes to mental and behavioral health disorders due to the lack of cultural understanding. The resolution encourages agencies and governments to address mis- or undiagnosed mental health disorders, which in return would benefit Black youth.