H.R. 4723: Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025, aims to develop and implement a strategy focused on outreach and education regarding behavioral and mental health specifically for Hispanic and Latino communities. Here's a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Outreach and Education Strategy

The bill mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary, coordinate with advocacy and mental health organizations that serve Hispanic and Latino populations to:

• Design the strategy: The strategy should cater to the diverse cultural and language needs of various Hispanic and Latino groups, and be appropriate for different ages and developmental stages.
• Increase awareness: It aims to educate these communities about the symptoms of common mental illnesses, considering differences within subgroups based on gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
• Provide information on interventions: The strategy would include information about evidence-based interventions and treatments that are culturally and linguistically suitable for these communities.
• Engage communities: It focuses on ensuring that both consumers of mental health services and community members actively participate in creating and implementing educational materials.
• Adopt a public health approach: The bill promotes a comprehensive public health perspective on behavioral health that emphasizes the connection between mental and physical health.

Reporting Requirements

The Secretary is required to submit an annual report to Congress and make it publicly available. This report will detail the effectiveness of the strategy in improving mental health outcomes for Hispanic and Latino populations, beginning one year after the enactment of the bill.

Funding

The bill authorizes funding of $1,000,000 for the fiscal year 2026 to support the execution of this strategy.

Overall Aim

The overall intention of the Mental Health for Latinos Act of 2025 is to reduce stigma associated with mental health conditions and substance abuse within Hispanic and Latino communities, while promoting better mental health through tailored outreach and education efforts.

Relevant Companies

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