Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6226

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-02-04T09:06:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act (H.R. 6226) aims to improve mental health outcomes for Hispanic and Latino youth by addressing barriers such as stigma, limited access to services, and cultural factors. It focuses on raising awareness, reducing stigma, enhancing outreach, and studying workforce needs to promote better mental health support for this population.

Key Provisions

• Findings Section: Outlines congressional recognition of mental health challenges among Hispanic and Latino youth, including high rates of adverse childhood experiences (at least 78% affected), poor mental health reports (60% more likely), persistent sadness (42%), suicide contemplation (18% of high school students), and lower treatment rates due to factors like lack of insurance, language barriers, and cultural stigma.

• National Awareness and Outreach Campaign (Sec. 3): Amends the Public Health Service Act to add a new section requiring:
• A study within one year of enactment on prior federal mental health campaigns and their effectiveness in the Latino community.
• Development of a culturally and linguistically appropriate national campaign, coordinated with agencies like the Office of Minority Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Education.
• Campaign elements include:
• Awareness efforts targeting parents, caregivers, youth, teachers, and school staff to educate on mental illness symptoms, risk factors (e.g., social determinants like gender, immigration status), stigma reduction, and evidence-based treatments.
• Outreach activities such as distributing resources (including info on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), hosting workshops in schools and community centers, providing mental health first aid training, forming partnerships with schools and programs, and offering on-site screenings and consultations.
• Authorizes $5 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

• Study and Report on Mental Health Crisis (Sec. 4): Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to conduct a study in coordination with NIH, CDC, Office of Minority Health, and Surgeon General. The study assesses:
• Prevalence of mental health/substance use disorders, suicide attempts/deaths, treatment access, and use of hotlines (e.g., 988), mobile crisis teams, and crisis centers among Hispanic and Latino youth.
• A report due within one year, submitted to congressional committees and made public, including barriers to care, recommendations for services, suicide prevention, hotline utilization, and crisis support. Data must be disaggregated by factors like race, age, gender identity, and geography while protecting privacy.
• Authorizes $1 million for fiscal year 2026.

• Study and Report on Mental Health Workforce Shortage (Sec. 5): Requires a study on increasing Hispanic and Latino mental health professionals, coordinated with the Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Minority Health, Surgeon General, and Department of Labor. It covers:
• Numbers of providers (clinical and non-clinical, e.g., psychologists, social workers, counselors), their licenses, locations, employers (e.g., schools, health centers), languages spoken, and enrollment in training programs.
• A report due within one year, assessing provider awareness of barriers, with recommendations to boost recruitment, education enrollment, and overall numbers. Data disaggregated similarly to Sec. 4.
• Defines "clinical and non-clinical mental health provider" broadly to include licensed professionals in fields like psychology, nursing, and peer support.
• Authorizes $1 million for fiscal year 2026.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new section (Sec. 554) to Part D of Title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.), introducing targeted federal mandates for mental health campaigns and studies focused on Hispanic and Latino youth—previously, such efforts were not specifically required or funded for this demographic.
• Builds on existing resources like the 988 Lifeline but mandates their promotion and evaluation within this population, without altering core structures of prior laws.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload and coordination for HHS components (e.g., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health, NIH, CDC), Office of Minority Health, and Department of Education; requires new studies and campaigns, with modest funding ($7 million total authorized over five years) potentially straining budgets if not appropriated.
• Citizens: Hispanic and Latino youth and families may gain better access to culturally tailored mental health resources, education, and crisis support, potentially reducing untreated mental illness, substance use, and suicide rates; schools and communities could see more partnerships and training.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may indirectly support U.S. efforts in global health equity by addressing domestic disparities in immigrant or bilingual communities.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Hispanic and Latino Youth and Families: Primary beneficiaries through targeted awareness, outreach, and reduced barriers to care.
• Mental Health Providers and Organizations: Advocacy groups, clinicians, and non-clinical staff (e.g., school counselors) involved in campaign implementation, training, and workforce expansion.
• Educational Institutions: Elementary and secondary schools, after-school programs, and staff required to participate in workshops, partnerships, and screenings.
• Government Entities: HHS agencies, CDC, NIH, and congressional committees overseeing reports and funding.
• Community Advocates: Local, state, and national groups serving Latino populations, consulted in campaign development.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Ensures data privacy compliance with federal and state laws (e.g., HIPAA equivalents) in disaggregated reporting; promotes evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches without mandating new regulations on providers.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Equal Protection Clause by addressing health disparities in a minority group, fostering equity without infringing on rights; no apparent free speech or privacy violations.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan potential in public health (introduced by Democrats but focuses on underserved communities); could influence future funding for minority health initiatives, emphasizing social determinants like immigration status and cultural stigma in policy debates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

Cosponsors (8)

Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-20: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (14 pages)