Bill Summary
This legislation, titled the "Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act," aims to amend the Public Health Service Act in order to address and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations. This is done through the creation and implementation of an outreach and education strategy, which will be developed by the Secretary in coordination with relevant organizations. The goal of this strategy is to increase awareness of mental illness, provide information on appropriate treatments, engage community members, and promote a holistic approach to behavioral health. The bill also authorizes funding of $300,000 in fiscal year 2020 for this purpose.
Possible Impacts
1. The "Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act" could potentially improve access to mental health resources and support for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander individuals and communities. This could lead to better mental health outcomes and reduced stigma surrounding mental health conditions in these populations.
2. The implementation of culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach and education strategies outlined in the Act could make it easier for individuals in these communities to recognize and seek help for mental health conditions.
3. The Act could also provide funding for community organizations and advocacy groups to develop and implement programs and interventions that specifically address the mental health needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2826 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2826
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for behavioral and
mental health outreach and education strategies to reduce stigma
associated with mental health among the Asian American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander population.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 17, 2019
Ms. Judy Chu of California (for herself and Mrs. Napolitano) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for behavioral and
mental health outreach and education strategies to reduce stigma
associated with mental health among the Asian American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander population.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our
Communities Act''.
SEC. 2. ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
STRATEGIES.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 553. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
STRATEGIES.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
shall, in coordination with advocacy and behavioral and mental health
organizations serving populations of Asian American, Native Hawaiian,
and Pacific Islander individuals or communities, develop and implement
an outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and mental
health and reduce stigma associated with mental health conditions and
substance abuse among the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander populations. Such strategy shall--
``(1) be designed to--
``(A) meet the diverse cultural and language needs
of the various Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and
Pacific Islander populations; and
``(B) ensure such strategies are developmentally
and age appropriate;
``(2) increase awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses
common among such populations, taking into account differences
within subgroups, such as gender, gender identity, age, sexual
orientation, or ethnicity, of such populations;
``(3) provide information on evidence-based, culturally and
linguistically appropriate and adapted interventions and
treatments;
``(4) ensure full participation of, and engage, both
consumers and community members in the development and
implementation of materials; and
``(5) seek to broaden the perspective among both
individuals in these communities and stakeholders serving these
communities to use a comprehensive public health approach to
promoting behavioral health that addresses a holistic view of
health by focusing on the intersection between behavioral and
physical health.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $300,000 for fiscal year
2020.''.
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