III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 769 

Recognizing the importance of mental health for youth in the United States, 

and expressing the pressing need for awareness and support for mental 

health care for children and adolescents. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 24, 2024 

Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. TILLIS) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of mental health for youth in 

the United States, and expressing the pressing need for 

awareness and support for mental health care for children and adolescents. 

Whereas, over the past few decades and during the COVID– 

19 pandemic, mental health issues among young people 

have steadily become worse; 

Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 49.5 percent of adolescents in the United 

States have faced a mental health disorder at some point 

in their lives; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

stated that in 2020, during the COVID–19 pandemic, 

mental health-related emergency room visits for children 


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•SRES 769 ATS 

aged 5 through 11 years increased by 24 percent, and for 

children aged 12 through 17 years increased more than 

30 percent; 

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention— 

(1) suicide is the third leading cause of death among 

14- to 18-year-olds in the United States; and 

(2) over 20 percent of high school students seriously 

consider attempting suicide and 10 percent attempt to 

take their lives; 

Whereas the National Institute of Mental Health states that 

mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, 

can lead to a higher propensity to engage in substance 

use; and 

Whereas youth populations in rural or underserved areas are 

less likely to be connected to mental health care: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the importance 

2 of mental health among youth in the United States, and 

3 that in order to increase awareness for mental health care 

4 for children and adolescents, the Federal Government 

5 must work collaboratively to— 

6 (1) encourage States, local educational agencies, 

7 schools, and community organizations to support 

8 children, youth, and students experiencing mental 

9 health challenges at all grade levels by— 


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•SRES 769 ATS 

1 (A) improving the professional development 

2 given to educators so that educators are better 

3 equipped to— 

4 (i) support student well-being through 

5 evidence-based prevention strategies; and 

6 (ii) respond to signs and symptoms of 

7 mental health disorders among students 

8 that educators are in direct contact with; 

9 (B) recognizing that young children often 

10 go misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or face stigma 

11 when it comes to mental health disorders, and 

12 therefore lack adequate services and support 

13 when dealing with mental health challenges and 

14 crises; 

15 (C) raising awareness for high-quality 

16 school- and campus-based mental health serv17 ices that are evidence-based and trauma-in18 formed; and 

19 (D) evaluating the preservation of con20 tinuity of care for students whose treatment is 

21 interrupted; 

22 (2) recognize that mental health and physical 

23 health are intertwined and can be treated through 

24 integrated care services, and that age is not a deter25 minant for experiencing a mental health disorder, in 


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•SRES 769 ATS 

1 that children can face mental health challenges even 

2 in early childhood; 

3 (3) recognize the urgency for increasing public 

4 knowledge of mental health disorders by encouraging 

5 Federal, State, and local institutions to disseminate 

6 robust resources regarding the effects and available 

7 treatment options for various mental health dis8 orders; 

9 (4) address the stigmas associated with mental 

10 health challenges by urging States to adopt peer-to11 peer mental health treatment models that prioritize 

12 community-based care; 

13 (5) create a comprehensive strategy to contact 

14 isolated communities with little access to knowledge 

15 about and resources for supporting young people ex16 periencing mental health disorders; and 

17 (6) address and prevent adverse childhood expe18 riences, including previous childhood trauma, and 

19 other childhood and family risk factors that can lead 

20 to involvement in the justice and child welfare sys21 tems. 

Æ 


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