Youth Mental Health Research Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2587
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-01: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:05:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Youth Mental Health Research Act (H.R. 2587) aims to create a coordinated research effort within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address mental health challenges among youth. It seeks to foster collaboration across NIH institutes to advance studies that build community resilience and improve mental health interventions for young people.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Initiative: The bill directs the NIH Director to create the Youth Mental Health Research Initiative, led by the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This initiative will work with the Directors of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD).
- Scope of Research: The initiative will promote collaboration among NIH's national research institutes and centers on:
- Social, behavioral, cognitive, and developmental studies to strengthen youth resilience and equip communities to identify and support at-risk or crisis-affected youth.
- Studies focused on enhancing the precision and accessibility of mental health treatments in everyday settings where youth spend time, such as schools, homes, workplaces, and recreational areas.
- Funding Authorization: Allocates $100,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to support these activities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This legislation amends Part B of Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) by adding a new section (409K). It introduces a dedicated framework for inter-institute collaboration on youth mental health research, which was not previously specified in the law. Prior to this, NIH research on mental health existed but lacked this formalized, youth-specific coordination across institutes.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Strengthens NIH's role in mental health research by mandating cross-institute partnerships, potentially streamlining funding and efforts within federal health programs. It may increase administrative coordination at NIH without creating new agencies.
- On Citizens: Could lead to evidence-based improvements in youth mental health services, benefiting children and adolescents (typically under 18) by enhancing community support and targeted interventions, particularly in underserved or minority populations.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic U.S. research and does not address global collaborations or foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- NIH Institutes and Researchers: NIMH, NICHD, and NIMHD staff, along with other NIH centers, will lead and participate in the collaborative research.
- Youth and Families: Children, adolescents, and their communities, especially those in high-risk or underserved areas, stand to gain from improved mental health resources.
- Mental Health Providers and Communities: Clinicians, schools, and local organizations involved in youth care may benefit from research-driven tools for better intervention delivery.
- Policymakers and Funders: Members of Congress and federal budget allocators, as the bill requires ongoing appropriations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Integrates seamlessly into the existing Public Health Service Act, expanding federal authority for health research without overriding state laws or creating enforceable mandates on private entities.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to promote the general welfare through funding public health initiatives, posing no apparent conflicts with individual rights or federalism principles.
- Political: Introduced with bipartisan support (by Reps. Watson Coleman, Kean, and Fitzpatrick), it highlights youth mental health as a non-partisan priority, potentially influencing future health funding debates amid rising concerns over adolescent well-being post-pandemic.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-01: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-04-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Youth Mental Health Research Act — issued 2025-04-01 — PDF (3 pages)