Sponsors (9)
The bill aims to improve mental-health awareness, training, and data-driven interventions for Hispanic and Latino youth through targeted outreach and a sustained federal campaign, but its benefits depend on adequate funding, provider capacity, data-privacy safeguards, and equitable local implementation.
Hispanic and Latino youth (and their parents, caregivers, and school staff) will get culturally and linguistically tailored mental-health outreach, training, on-site screenings, and crisis-resource information, improving early identification and response to mental health and substance-use needs.
Policymakers and public-health agencies will receive disaggregated data and targeted recommendations within one year to guide resource allocation, outreach planning, and equity-focused interventions to reduce suicide and substance use among Hispanic and Latino youth.
The bill supports efforts to expand the culturally and linguistically competent mental-health workforce and increase enrollment initiatives in mental-health training programs, which could improve long-term provider capacity for Latino communities.
Hispanic and Latino youth could face delayed access to care if outreach increases demand but there are not enough culturally competent mental-health providers or expanded clinical capacity.
A one-year study and short evaluation timelines may limit the depth of findings and delay rollout of needed interventions, slowing help for communities with urgent needs.
Focusing outreach and resources specifically on Hispanic/Latino subgroups could divert limited resources or leave other high-need groups less served if funds and capacity are constrained.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Requires HHS to run a national culturally and linguistically competent mental health outreach campaign for Hispanic and Latino youth, plus two studies on prevalence/crisis services and workforce gaps, with authorized funding.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Andrea Salinas · Last progress November 20, 2025
Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to design and run a national, culturally and linguistically competent mental health awareness and outreach campaign for Hispanic and Latino youth and the adults who care for them, based on a required review of prior campaigns. It also requires HHS to conduct two separate studies: one on the prevalence and risk factors for mental health and substance use disorders and crisis service use among Hispanic and Latino youth, and another on strategies to grow the Hispanic and Latino mental health workforce. The bill authorizes specific funding to carry out the campaign and studies and requires public reports with disaggregated data and recommendations within one year of enactment. The campaign must include stigma reduction, symptom awareness, links to evidence-based treatment, hotline information (including the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Hotline), workshops, trainings (including youth mental health first aid), partnerships with schools and community programs, and local screening/consultation options. Total authorized funding includes $5 million per year for FY2026–2030 for the campaign and $1 million each in FY2026 for the two studies.