S 1448119th CongressIntroduced

Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act

Introduced: Apr 10, 2025

Civil Rights & JusticeHealthcare

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act seeks to address mental health issues among youth, with a focus on youth of color, by broadening federal funding, creating new strategic activities, and pushing for better research and training related to racial and ethnic minority mental health disparities. It would adjust existing grant programs, require a national study of research gaps, expand training in health professions to include competencies for addressing disparities, establish a national outreach and education strategy to reduce stigma, and increase dedicated funding for NIH and NIMHD to support community engagement, clinical research, and youth-focused mental health disparity work. If enacted, the bill could lead to more culturally tailored services, better data on disparities, and a more culturally competent health workforce.

Key Points

1Grant program redesign and minority focus
2- In the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Grant program, the Secretary may give special consideration to entities serving a high proportion of racial and ethnic minority groups.
3- Funding levels are adjusted to provide $60 million in one year (with higher funding in subsequent years) and to extend the authorization window through 2031.
4Disparities research gaps study
5- Within 9 months of enactment, federal health agencies must arrange with the National Academies (or an alternative such as PCORI if Academies decline) to study gaps in research on mental health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minority groups.
6- A Congress-bound report would include prevalence data, analysis of factors like community violence and adverse experiences, and potential recommendations; if the Academies can’t participate, AHRQ would conduct the study.
7Health professions training and competencies
8- Adds a new set of activities under the health professions training authorities to develop and disseminate best practices and core competencies aimed at reducing mental health disparities.
9- Activities include forming expert committees, planning workshops, widely disseminating competencies, and establishing external advisory boards; the timeline extends funding through 2031.
10Outreach and education strategy for minority groups
11- Creates a new Behavioral and Mental Health Outreach and Education Strategy to be designed with minority-serving organizations.
12- Strategy requirements: culturally and language-appropriate design, developmentally appropriate materials, awareness of symptoms, information on evidence-based interventions, inclusive participation in development, and a public health approach that integrates behavioral and physical health.
13- Annual reporting to Congress for five years, starting one year after enactment; authorized funding of $20 million per year for 2026–2031.
14Substantial new NIH and NIMHD funding
15- Adds $150 million per year to the NIH for 2026–2031 to support community engagement, clinical research on disparities (including mental health), and alignment with the National Institute of Mental Health’s youth disparity framework.
16- Adds $750 million per year to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities for 2026–2031.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Youth mental health, especially youth of color and other racial/ethnic minority groups.- Mental health service providers and health professions educators, through new core competencies and training activities.Secondary group/area affected- Federal and academic research communities (NIH, NIMH, NIMHD) and organizations involved in disparities research, including potential collaboration with the National Academies and PCORI.- Community organizations serving minority populations involved in outreach and education efforts; schools and training programs that would implement new competencies and curricula.Additional impacts- Increased federal attention and funding to address racial and ethnic disparities in behavioral and mental health.- Greater emphasis on data collection and reporting on disparities, stigma reduction, and culturally tailored interventions.- Implementation and reporting requirements creating new accountability and performance metrics for grant programs and federal agencies.- Budgetary implications due to significant new authorizations for NIH and NIMHD over 2026–2031, subject to annual appropriations.The term “racial and ethnic minority group” follows the definition used in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act.The short title of the bill is the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act.

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