Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act

The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act would address mental health disparities among youth, particularly youth of color and racial and ethnic minority groups. The bill would modify federal grant programs to prioritize entities serving high proportions of minority communities and would increase funding for mental health initiatives. It would mandate a comprehensive research study to identify gaps in mental health research for minority populations, examining factors like community violence, adverse childhood experiences, and structural bias.

The legislation would also enhance training for mental health professionals by establishing mechanisms to develop best practices and core competencies for addressing mental health disparities in fields such as social work, psychology, psychiatry, and mental health counseling. Additionally, the bill would require development of a national outreach and education strategy designed to promote mental health awareness among racial and ethnic minority groups using culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches to reduce stigma and encourage earlier help-seeking.