A resolution supporting the designation of the week of May 7, 2023, as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" and May 11, 2023, as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Day".

Bill: 118-sres-235
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2023-06-01
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Child health

Commemorative events and holidays

Congressional tributes

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Health personnel

Health promotion and preventive care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Mental health
Latest action: action_date: 2023-06-01
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1959; text: CR S1902-1903)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-06-01
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution recognizes the importance of mental health and behavioral health for children and supports efforts to provide access to programs and services that support the mental health and well-being of children.</p>

action_date: 2023-06-01
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution recognizes the importance of mental health and behavioral health for children and supports efforts to provide access to programs and services that support the mental health and well-being of children.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 235 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 1, 2023 Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , and Mr. Padilla ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of the week of May 7, 2023, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and May 11, 2023, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day .

Whereas children in the United States have been documented to have undergone an acute public health crisis of mental and behavioral health for many years, even before the additional challenges of the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas a 2022 study found as many as 1 in 5 children in the United States have a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on survey data from the Youth Risk behavior survey, estimate that, in 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42 percent) high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless, and nearly 1 in 3 (29 percent) experienced poor mental health; Whereas, in 2019, according to the Census Bureau, over 11 percent of children aged 3 to 17 received treatment or counseling from a mental health professional; Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is— (1) the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 14; (2) the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 24; and (3) the tenth leading cause of death for individuals aged 5 to 9; Whereas there has been a significant increase in demand for mental health services for children, including a more than 30 percent increase in mental health visits to emergency departments for children aged 12 to 17 from 2019 to April 2020; Whereas barriers exist to access to mental health delivery systems, particularly impacting children and adults who have been exposed to adverse childhood experiences; and Whereas the stigma surrounding mental and behavioral health persists, and acknowledging this public health crisis and creating awareness as early as possible is as important as ever: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) recognizes the importance of connecting children with appropriate mental and behavioral health services and supports; (2) seeks to create awareness for the additional challenges children and their families have faced during the COVID–19 pandemic due to isolation from family and peers, barriers to services, and exposure to traumas; (3) supports programs and services aimed at providing access to care, building resiliency, and addressing trauma; and (4) shows appreciation and gratitude for family members, friends, educators, mental and behavioral health service providers, and others in their support for the mental health and well-being of children.