S. 1448: Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act

The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act is a proposed legislation aimed at addressing mental health issues among youth, particularly focusing on those from racial and ethnic minority groups. Here’s a summary of its provisions:

1. Grant Program for Health Care Services

The bill seeks to amend the existing Primary and Behavioral Health Care grant program by:

• Redesignating subsections for better organization.
• Introducing a provision that allows the Secretary of Health to give special consideration to entities that serve a high percentage of racial and ethnic minority groups when awarding grants.
• Increasing the funding from $60 million for 2023-2027 to $60 million for 2025, followed by $80 million annually from 2026 to 2031.

2. Research on Mental Health Disparities

The legislation mandates that within nine months of passing, a study be conducted to identify gaps in mental health research concerning racial and ethnic minority groups. Specifically, it tasks the National Institutes of Health to:

• Examine prevalence rates of mental health issues within these groups.
• Evaluate the effects of exposure to community violence, adverse childhood experiences, and other stressors.
• Provide recommendations for addressing these research gaps.

3. Training Competencies for Health Professionals

The bill calls for the development of best practices and competencies in training programs for professions such as social work, psychology, psychiatry, and mental health counseling. This includes:

• Forming expert committees to identify effective practices.
• Organizing workshops for public input on educational needs.
• Disseminating findings and practices in health education.
• Creating advisory boards for guiding policy and program development.

4. Behavioral and Mental Health Outreach Strategy

A comprehensive outreach and education strategy will be developed to promote behavioral and mental health awareness among racial and ethnic minority groups. This strategy will:

• Be culturally appropriate and cater to different age groups.
• Increase awareness of common mental health symptoms.
• Provide information on effective, culturally adapted interventions.
• Encourage participation from individuals receiving mental health services.

The bill also requires reporting on the effectiveness of this strategy for five years after its implementation.

5. Funding for National Health Institutes

The bill proposes additional funding to bolster research and community engagement at the National Institutes of Health. This includes:

• $150 million annually from 2026 through 2031 for research addressing disparities in mental health.
• $750 million annually for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities for the same duration.

Relevant Companies

• UNH - UnitedHealth Group: A major player in the healthcare sector that may be involved in funding and implementing mental health initiatives.
• WBA - Walgreens Boots Alliance: Operates healthcare services and may adapt to new mental health strategies as outlined in this legislation.