IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 480 

Acknowledging the racial disparities in diagnosing and treating mental health 

among youth in communities of color. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 9, 2019 

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself, Mr. HORSFORD, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. 

OMAR, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Ms. 

MOORE, Mr. COHEN, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. NORTON, 

Mr. PAYNE, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. CLARKE

of New York, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL, Mr. 

KHANNA, Ms. BASS, and Mr. ESPAILLAT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 

in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to 

be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 

concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Acknowledging the racial disparities in diagnosing and 

treating mental health among youth in communities of color. 

Whereas ‘‘mental health disorders among youth’’ is defined 

by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as serious changes in the way youth typically learn, behave, or 

handle their emotions, which causes distress and problems getting through the day; 

Whereas 20 percent of youth between the ages of 13 and 18 

live with a mental health condition; 


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•HRES 480 IH 

Whereas 50 percent of all lifetime cases for mental illness 

begin by age 14, and 75 percent by age 24; 

Whereas there has been an increase of youth diagnosed with 

mental disorders such as anxiety and depression in recent 

years; 

Whereas relative to White adolescents, Hispanic, Native 

American, and Pacific Islander adolescents receive less 

treatment for anxiety disorders over their lifetime; 

Whereas Black and Hispanic adolescents receive less treatment for mood disorders, such as depression, over their 

lifetime; 

Whereas Black and Hispanic youth are about half as likely 

as their White counterparts to get mental health care; 

Whereas suicide is the second leading cause of death for people 10 to 34 years of age, and suicide rates in the United 

States are closely correlated to poverty rates of which 

there is a disparity based on race; 

Whereas 70 percent of youth in State and local juvenile justice systems, which are disproportionately comprised of 

Black and Hispanic youth, have a mental illness; 

Whereas due to stigmas and a shortage of culturally appropriate behavioral health services, youth in different communities of color do not always reach out for help to address mental illness; 

Whereas racial discrimination and other psychosocial 

stressors, such as police harassment, violence, trauma, 

implicit bias, and racism, are contributing factors to anxiety disorders, behavior disorders, and suicide; 

Whereas diversity in the mental and behavioral health workforce continues to be an important issue due to the lack 


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of recruitment and retention of racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity minorities, and people with 

disabilities, resulting in a shortage of trained providers to 

deliver culturally competent evidence-based promotion, 

prevention, and treatment services for children, which 

contributes to mental and behavioral health disparities; 

and 

Whereas it is the duty of Congress to promote the general 

welfare for the American people, especially ensuring the 

wellbeing of all of America’s youth: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) the House of Representatives should ac4 knowledge the horrific toll that mental illness has 

5 had on the youth of America; 

6 (2) the House of Representatives should ac7 knowledge that youth from communities of color face 

8 racial disparities when it comes to access and treat9 ment of mental illness; 

10 (3) gaining access to mental health resources is 

11 a necessity and should be available to everyone re12 gardless of race or ethnicity; 

13 (4) the House of Representatives needs to take 

14 immediate action to address these disparities and 

15 ensure that those who need treatment can receive it; 


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1 (5) the House of Representatives needs to en2 sure Federal funding is provided for mental health 

3 professionals in schools and afterschool programs; 

4 (6) funding and training needs to be available 

5 to any parent, supervisor, or other professional who 

6 work with youth of color so they have a greater 

7 awareness of the signs and symptoms so that the 

8 children and adolescents can get connected to serv9 ices; 

10 (7) more research and awareness need to be 

11 done by the Federal Government, especially within 

12 the Department of Health and Human Services and 

13 by the National Institute on Minority Health and 

14 Health Disparities, on what can be done to help 

15 youth in communities of color gain access to mental 

16 health resources; and 

17 (8) the Federal Government, especially the De18 partment of Health and Human Services and the 

19 Department of Education, should research best 

20 practices and incentives for those considering edu21 cation in wanting to work in the mental health field, 

22 and how it can help increase the number of eth23 nically and racially diverse professionals. 

Æ 


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