IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1481 

Expressing support for the recognition of September 2024 as ‘‘National 

Children’s Emotional Wellness Month’’ and for increased public awareness regarding children’s emotional health and wellness. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 

Mrs. KIM of California (for herself and Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 

and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the recognition of September 2024 

as ‘‘National Children’s Emotional Wellness Month’’ and 

for increased public awareness regarding children’s emotional health and wellness. 

Whereas National Children’s Emotional Wellness Month 

brings attention to childhood and adolescence as key 

stages for good emotional and mental health development; 

Whereas, during the month of September, people and organizations come together to recognize the importance of children’s emotional well-being to thrive in the home, classroom, and society; 


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•HRES 1481 IH 

Whereas emotional wellness is the ability to manage and express emotions effectively during stressful situations and 

adapt to changing and difficult circumstances; 

Whereas emotional wellness impacts every step of a child’s 

development and is closely linked with mental, physical, 

and behavioral health; 

Whereas 140,000 children experienced a death of a caregiver 

during the COVID–19 pandemic, severely impacting their 

emotional well-being, according to the American Academy 

of Pediatrics, and many children also faced academic disruption and social isolation, had a parent lose their job, 

or suffered physical or emotional abuse at home; 

Whereas, from March to October 2020, mental health emergency visits rose by 24 percent among children ages 5 to 

11 and 31 percent among teenagers ages 12 to 17; 

Whereas children and adolescents who use social media for 

more than 3 hours a day face double the risk of depression and anxiety, according to the Department of Health 

and Human Services; 

Whereas 1 in 5 United States children and teenagers, ranging from ages 3 through 17, suffer from an emotional, 

mental, or behavioral disorder, according to a 2022 National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine 

report; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that only 20 percent of children with an emotional, 

mental, or behavioral disorder receive specialized care 

and the treatment that they need; 

Whereas the second-leading cause of death among United 

States children and young adults is suicide, and approxiVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Sep 21, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1481.IH HR1481

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•HRES 1481 IH 

mately 2,000,000 children and teenagers attempt suicide 

annually; 

Whereas a child’s mental health is directly impacted by parental mental health, and parents who experience 

perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are more likely to 

have children who experience emotional problems at 2 

years postpartum; 

Whereas the children’s mental health workforce is vital to the 

emotional well-being of millions of adolescents and teenagers, and it would be appropriate to celebrate the pediatricians, therapists, and mental health care providers for 

their invaluable service; 

Whereas local nonprofit organizations such as the Extraordinary Lives Foundation offer a unique approach to 

awareness, prevention, and early intervention and support 

the mental and emotional health needs of children 

through classroom toolkits, therapeutic resources, and 

educational opportunities for families; and 

Whereas spreading awareness during the month of September 

is crucial to increase access to social-emotional and mental health support and reduce barriers to access, including complicated and burdensome systems, limited supply 

of qualified mental health providers, and stigma that prevents families from seeking services: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the recognition of 

3 ‘‘National Children’s Emotional Wellness Month’’ 

4 and encourages increased public awareness and sup5 port for children’s emotional health and wellness; 


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•HRES 1481 IH 

1 (2) expresses concern regarding rising rates of 

2 suicide, depression, and anxiety among American 

3 children and teenagers; 

4 (3) thanks America’s pediatric and mental 

5 health workforce and nonprofit organizations for im6 proving children’s emotional well-being and pro7 viding services to address the needs of children and 

8 their families; and 

9 (4) supports maternal and paternal mental 

10 health care as an effective means of promoting a 

11 child’s emotional and mental health. 

Æ 


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