25 May 2023 BPC Action Applauds Bipartisan Resolution Declaring Youth Mental Health Crisis in Health
BPC Action commends the leadership of Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chris Stewart (R-UT), David Trone (D-MD), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) on their bipartisan resolution declaring a mental health crisis among youth in the United States and expressing the pressing need for historic investments in mental health care for students.
The nation’s youth mental health crisis has garnered attention from public health leaders and policymakers, and rightfully so. Data reveal that American adolescents (generally considered individuals ages 10-19) are increasingly suffering from high rates of both depression and anxiety, and major depressive episodes are more prevalent among adolescents ages 16-17 (21.9%), specifically than any other age group. Adolescence is a critical period – because half of all lifetime mental illness and substance use disorders begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24, the scale of unmet needs will profoundly impact Americans for years.
This resolution directly addresses the current crisis facing the nation’s youth, and that to begin mitigating the detrimental effects of this crisis, the federal government must work with states, local educational agencies, schools, and community organizations to support students suffering from mental health crises; better integrate mental and physical health; increase the public knowledge on mental health disorders and reduce stigma; and connect and support those in high-risk and overlooked populations.
The Bipartisan Policy Center has prioritized tackling the nation’s behavioral health crisis and continues to promote behavioral health and primary care integration to enhance patient access to mental health and substance use disorder treatments, improve patient outcomes, enhance the behavioral health workforce, and support mental health parity.
BPC Action applauds Reps. Moulton, Fitzpatrick, Stewart, Trone, and Watson Coleman for their bipartisan leadership and looks forward to working together to address that nation’s youth mental health crisis.