Us Congress Senate Bill SB1773

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/31/23
• Refer: 5/31/23

Caption

Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act

Impact

One of the main components of the bill is a directive for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out studies that assess the mental health challenges specific to AANHPI youth, identify barriers to accessing treatment, and propose actionable recommendations. The bill also emphasizes the importance of disaggregated data collection to better gauge the mental health landscape within this diverse demographic, which represents over 30 countries and 50 distinct ethnic groups. Furthermore, the legislation is supported by an appropriation of $3,000,000 for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to implement these strategies.

Summary

SB1773, also known as the 'Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act', seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a national outreach and education strategy focusing on behavioral health for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations. The bill acknowledges the growing mental health crisis within these communities, particularly affecting the youth, and aims to address barriers to accessing mental health services, such as systemic stigma, a shortage of culturally competent providers, and insufficient research data.

Contention

Contention around SB1773 revolves around the broader implications it may have on health policy and funding within related sectors. Critics may argue that while the bill highlights a crucial gap in mental health support for AANHPI communities, it is also essential to ensure that the strategies developed under this legislation do not undermine existing resources allocated for other populations. Additionally, there is concern around whether the measures proposed are sufficient to significantly lower the rates of youth suicide, which is tragically the leading cause of death among AANHPI youth.