Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 87 / Thursday, May 5, 2022 / Presidential Documents 26659 

Proclamation 10380 of April 29, 2022 

National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2022 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Each May we raise awareness about the importance of mental health and 

its impact on the well-being of all Americans, including children, adults, 

families, and communities across our Nation. We also give thanks to the 

dedicated mental health providers whose service and support improve the 

lives of so many Americans. We stand in solidarity with those who are 

experiencing mental health conditions, renewing our commitment to providing them with the support they need and deserve. 

Even before the pandemic, millions of Americans were experiencing stress, 

trauma, anxiety, and heightened levels of depression. The COVID–19 pandemic exacerbated those conditions, creating an unprecedented mental health 

crisis across our country. Communities of color, frontline workers, health 

care workers, and individuals with eating disorders have been disproportionately impacted, and the rate of depression across the country has more 

than tripled compared to rates in 2019. 

Mental health challenges among our youth have also been particularly acute 

due to disruptions in routines, increased social isolation, and learning loss. 

Research has shown that social media plays a central role in increasing 

mental health challenges among young people—especially young women. 

Emergency department visits for attempted suicide among girls in 2021 

increased by more than 50 percent compared to 2020. American Indians, 

Alaska Natives, Black youth, and LGBTQI+ youth also face a disproportionate 

risk of suicide. 

Despite these disturbing trends, less than half of Americans struggling with 

mental illness receive the treatment they need—even fewer within Black 

and Brown communities. A variety of factors contribute to this problem. 

For example, too many communities lack sufficient numbers of mental health 

providers. Even where there are enough mental health providers, our 

fragmentated system makes it difficult for people to access them. Tragically, 

too, many Americans feel ashamed to reach out for help, or are stigmatized 

for seeking care. 

My Administration is committed to transforming mental health care for 

all Americans. The American Rescue Plan laid the groundwork for this 

effort, investing nearly $5.5 billion nationwide to strengthen mental health 

and substance use care. It also invested billions of dollars in our Nation’s 

schools, including mental health treatment for students and staff. 

But far more needs to be done. That is why in this year’s State of the 

Union Address, I outlined my vision for bolder investments to address 

our national mental health crisis. My strategy includes actions that will 

broaden the pipeline of behavioral health professionals in areas of greatest 

need, integrate mental health and substance use treatment into primary 

care, and expand access through more virtual care options. 

In addition, last year the Surgeon General released an Advisory on Protecting 

Youth Mental Health that underscored the growing harms of digital technologies—especially social media—on the mental health of our youth. It 

is time to strengthen privacy protections, ban targeted advertising to children, 


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26660 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 87 / Thursday, May 5, 2022 / Presidential Documents 

and demand that technology companies stop collecting the personal data 

of our children. We must also continue researching the impact of social 

media on the mental health of our children, expand services in school 

to promote their well-being, and set them up for success so they can thrive 

as adults. 

As my Administration works to expand suicide prevention and strengthen 

crisis care infrastructure within our communities, those who need immediate 

assistance can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1–800–273– 

TALK—which will transition to a simple three-digit number, 988, in July. 

Each of us has an important role to play in supporting our fellow Americans 

who are living with mental health conditions. Learn the warning signs 

of emotional distress and suicide. Engage affected loved ones in supportive 

dialogue. Fight the prejudice and negative attitudes that discourages those 

in need from seeking mental health support. Above all, let us collectively 

ensure that all children and adults experiencing mental health challenges 

are treated with the compassion, respect, and understanding they deserve. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2022 as National 

Mental Health Awareness Month. I call upon citizens, government agencies, 

private businesses, non-profit organizations, and other groups to join in 

activities and take action to strengthen the mental health of our communities 

and our Nation. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth 

day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

forty-sixth. 

[FR Doc. 2022–09760 

Filed 5–4–22; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F2–P 


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