Butler, Murkowski Introduce Package of Mental Health Bills

Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced The Strengthening Supports for Youth Act and The Prevention Services for Youth Act, two mental health bills that will support the expansion of family and peer-focused mental health supports and prevention services for youth.

Across the country, experts are raising alarm bells as the United States combats a worsening youth mental health and substance use crisis. In 2021 the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association declared a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. And in the same year, the United States Surgeon General issued a Youth Mental Health Advisory. Nearly 50 percent of adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. Roughly 42 percent of high school students have reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and more than 20 percent have seriously considered suicide.

Without access to treatment or prevention services, youth with mental health and substance use challenges are at an increased risk of contact with the criminal justice system and suicide. Parents and family members are often the first to notice if a child is experiencing issues with emotions or behavior, and research has underscored the positive impact that meaningful family engagement and peer support can have on youth mental health and substance use outcomes.

“Young people in California and in communities all across America often face significant gaps in access to adequate mental health resources. This package of legislation would equip caregivers and families with tools to ensure every young person gets the care they urgently need,” said Senator Butler. “If we want to address the youth mental health crisis, we need to ensure supports and services are in place to help those grappling with mental health challenges, and to prevent challenges before they occur.”

“Addressing the mental health and substance abuse crises impacting the lives of young people across Alaska and the country has been a constant priority of mine,” said Senator Murkowski. “The Strengthening Supports for Youth Act and Prevention Services for Youth Act, allow youth-oriented services to better assist young people in our communities experiencing these hardships. I’m optimistic about this legislation’s comprehensive approach to these issues, as well as the course it charts for years to come.”

The Strengthening Supports for Youth Act and Prevention Services for Youth Act aim to combat mental health and substance use challenges among children, adolescents, and young adults; and support opportunities to expand youth-focused prevention services.

The Strengthening Supports for Youth Act would:

1. Establish a pilot program and provide grant funding to support parents, families, and caregivers in addressing mental health and substance use challenges among the children, adolescents, and young adults in their lives.
2. Direct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study and report on youth peer support services, and examine factors including:
   1. The effectiveness of evidence-based youth peer support services;
   2. Whether available youth peer support services meet the demand for such services;
   3. The populations, including underserved populations, served through youth peer support services;
   4. Challenges associated with implementing youth peer support services; and
   5. Federal and state efforts to support the operation and implementation of youth peer support services.

   The Prevention Services for Youth Act would:

   1. Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to states on establishing an effective continuum of mental health and substance use disorder prevention services for youth, under the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), that:
      1. Outlines how states may finance youth mental health and substance use disorder prevention services;
      2. Identifies how states may support access to youth mental health and substance use disorder services prevention services;
      3. Describes best practices for coordinating Medicaid and CHIP funding for youth mental health and substance use disorder prevention services with other health insurance payors; and
      4. Identifies best practices for measuring the effectiveness of community-based youth mental health and substance use disorder services.

      The Strengthening Supports for Youth Act and The Prevention Services for Youth Act are endorsed by: Active Minds, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychological Association, Born This Way Foundation, California Children’s Trust, The Children’s Partnership, Disability Rights California, Inseparable, Lifeline Community Services, Mending Matters, Mental Health America (MHA), National Alliance on Mental Illness, The National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy, San Ysidro Health, SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services), The Trevor Project, and Young Invincibles.

      “Active Minds strongly endorses the Prevention Services for Youth Act and the Strengthening Supports for Youth Act,” said Randy Moore, Policy Manager for Active Minds. “These crucial pieces of legislation represent a significant step forward in addressing the mental health needs of young people across the nation. By focusing on prevention, early intervention, and evidence-based practices, these bills align perfectly with our mission to change the conversation about mental health among youth. We believe these acts will help create a more comprehensive and accessible mental health support system for children, adolescents, and young adults, ultimately leading to healthier, more resilient communities.”

      “We are inspired by Senator Butler and Senator Murkowski’s commitment to culturally-responsive, evidence-based youth-centered healing. We share the belief that if adults provide the resources, youth from historically marginalized communities can create the conditions for individual and community well-being,” said Angela M. Vázquez, Policy Director, Mental Health for The Children’s Partnership.

      “Lifeline Community Services strongly supports the Strengthening Supports for Youth Act and the Prevention Services for Youth Act. We are dedicated to providing mental and behavioral health services to youth, with 80% of our clients being young individuals from families living below the federal poverty line. The mental health challenges faced by our youth are among the most pressing issues of our time,” said Lisette Islas, CEO of Lifeline Community Services. “These bills are essential in ensuring that families and the community networks that support them have the necessary resources to address these challenges effectively. By providing vital support and resources, these legislative efforts will pave the way for a healthier future for our children and adolescents, and create more resilient communities. We urge the swift passage of these acts to bring essential assistance to families nationwide.”

      “Youth peer support is a critical service in schools and other community settings to help address growing mental health and substance use needs in children and young adults. Mental Health America (MHA) applauds Senator Butler and Senator Murkowski for listening to the nation’s young advocates and introducing this legislation, which represents an important step forward in advancing youth peer support research and programming,” said Caren Howard, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at MHA.

      “The National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy enthusiastically endorses the Strengthening Supports for Youth Act and the Prevention Services for Youth Act,” said Madison Trice, Policy Strategist for The National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy. “We are excited by new grant funding being put towards youth mental health, studies that emphasize the importance of peer support, and increasing guidance for effective youth mental health care. Each of these policies is critical for supporting the mental health of young people.”

      A one-pager text of the bills is available HERE.

      Full text of The Strengthening Supports for Youth Act is available HERE.

      Full text of The Prevention Services for Youth Act is available HERE.