Reps. Napolitano, Gibson Reintroduce Mental Health in Schools Act
(Washington, DC) Today, Reps. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32) and Chris Gibson (R-NY-19) reintroduced the Mental Health in Schools Act (H.R. 1211) to fund on-site school-based mental health services for youth.
“The Mental Health in Schools Act is a critically-needed investment in our most precious resource—our children,” said Congresswoman Napolitano. “Peers, school personnel, and families can help students, but they need to be trained how to identify needs. This proposal educates on the warning signs and symptoms of mental illness, so students can be referred directly to clinicians on site. Our 26-school suicide prevention program in California has proven its value by providing services to children right on school grounds—raising mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and saving lives. We are tremendously grateful to Congressman Gibson for cosponsoring this bill to promote mental wellness and reduce stigma, ensuring a brighter future for our youngsters.”
“As a parent and former educator and the husband of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am proud to join Congresswoman Napolitano in reintroducing the Mental Health in Schools Act,” said Congressman Gibson. “Ready access to quality mental health services should be available to all of our students. This legislation goes a long way to seeing that our young people are able to get the support they need to live life to their fullest potential.”
The Mental Health in Schools Act, which Napolitano introduced in the previous four Congresses, would create a total of $200 million in grant funding for 200 schools across the country to partner with local nonprofits to provide on-site, culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services for students. H.R. 1211 is patterned after a successful pilot program started in 2001 in Napolitano’s area, which began in four schools that has now expanded to 26 schools throughout California’s San Gabriel Valley.
Background:
· H.R. 1211 would offer early intervention/treatment for young people with mental health issues.
· Early preventive mental health services save money by preventing crime, costly court trials, jail time, emergency room visits, job losses for those suffering, and reliance on state and federal services.
· Among young people aged 10-14 years old, suicide rates have doubled in the last two decades (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention).
· Children with mental health issues make $10,400 less per year as adults (Journal of Social Science and Medicine).
· 4 in 10 currently unemployed parents say they have seen behavioral changes in their children due to their unemployment (NY Times/CBS Poll).
· Behavioral and emotional problems decreased among 31% of youth with mental health issues after 6 months of receiving mental health care (SAMHSA report).
· The number of students involved in violent incidents decreased by 15% within three years of establishing mental health programs (SAMHSA report).
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Mental Health in Schools Act website at: https://napolitano.house.gov/legislative-work/mental-health-schools-act
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