COVID–19 Mental Health Research Act
Bill: S.631 | Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
COVID-19 Mental Health Research Act
This bill requires the National Institute of Mental Health to support mental health research activities related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The institute must coordinate these activities with other components of the National Institutes of Health.

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 
the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to conduct or 
  support research on the mental health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 or 
                   COVID-19, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``COVID-19 Mental Health Research 
Act''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH ON THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF COVID-19.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in 
this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the 
Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, shall conduct or 
support research on the mental health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 or 
COVID-19.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Research under subsection (a) may include--
            (1) research on the mental health impact of SARS-CoV-2 or 
        COVID-19 on health care providers, including--
                    (A) traumatic stress;
                    (B) psychological distress;
                    (C) psychiatric disorders; and
                    (D) longer-term stress, including burnout;
            (2) research on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 
        stressors on mental health over time;
            (3) research to strengthen the mental health response to 
        SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, including adapting to and maintaining 
        or providing additional services for new or increasing mental 
        health needs;
            (4) research on the reach, efficiency, effectiveness, and 
        quality of digital mental health interventions;
            (5) research on the effectiveness of strategies for 
        implementation and delivery of evidence-based mental health 
        interventions and services for underserved populations;
            (6) research on suicide prevention;
            (7) research on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 on the 
        mental health of specific populations, including children and 
        adolescents, women, older adults, individuals with 
        disabilities, and members of racial and ethnic minority groups; 
        and
            (8) research on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 on the 
        mental health of individuals experiencing long-term symptoms or 
        side effects after infection.
    (c) Research Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate 
activities under this section with similar activities conducted by 
national research institutes and centers of the National Institutes of 
Health to the extent that such institutes and centers have 
responsibilities that are related to the mental health consequences of 
SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026, to remain available until expended.
    (e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to carry out 
this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other 
funding made available to the National Institute of Mental Health.
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