H.R. 3316: Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025, aims to improve mental health awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental health treatments in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Here is a summary of its key components:

Short Title

The Act is formally identified as the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act of 2025.

Definitions

The bill defines key terms, including:

• AANHPI: Refers to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations.
• Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Findings

The bill outlines several findings related to mental health issues in the AANHPI community:

• The AANHPI community is diverse and one of the fastest-growing population groups in the U.S., representing over 70 distinct ethnicities.
• AANHPI individuals face significant mental health challenges, with lower rates of utilization of mental health services compared to other groups. Only 35 percent of Asian adults with mental health challenges received treatment in the past year.
• There is a high suicide rate among AANHPI youth, where suicide is the leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 24 in this demographic.
• Barriers to access include stigma, lack of culturally appropriate services, and insufficient research on AANHPI communities.
• Investment is needed to enhance outreach, education, and services tailored to the AANHPI population.

National AANHPI Behavioral Health Outreach and Education Strategy

The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with developing and implementing a national strategy to promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma. This strategy will:

• Address diverse cultural and language needs of AANHPI populations.
• Be age-appropriate and sensitive to developmental stages.
• Increase awareness of mental illnesses and their symptoms among different subgroups.
• Provide accessible information on effective treatments and interventions.
• Engage community members in the development of educational materials.
• Adopt a holistic public health approach that connects behavioral health with physical health.

A report on the effectiveness of this strategy will be submitted to Congress annually, and $3 million is allocated for this initiative each fiscal year from 2026 to 2030.

Systematic Review of AANHPI Youth Behavioral Health Crisis

The Secretary will conduct a systematic review of behavioral health among AANHPI youth, focusing on:

• The prevalence and causes of mental health issues and substance misuse.
• Data on suicide attempts and rates among AANHPI youth.
• The effectiveness of treatments received by AANHPI youth for these issues.

A public report detailing these findings and barriers to accessing support will be submitted within one year of the bill's enactment, with a budget of $1.5 million allocated for this fiscal year.

Systematic Review of AANHPI Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage

In another aspect, the bill calls for a systematic review of the behavioral health workforce that identifies as AANHPI by assessing:

• The number of AANHPI mental health workers.
• The barriers they face in entering the workforce and meeting the needs of their communities.
• Cultural and linguistic capabilities of these workers.

A report with recommendations for increasing the AANHPI behavioral health workforce will also be required within one year of enactment. This section is allocated $1.5 million for the fiscal year 2026.

Data Privacy and Disaggregation

Data collected for the systematic reviews and reports will be required to be disaggregated by various demographic factors while ensuring personal privacy complies with applicable laws.

Relevant Companies

None found.