Federal campaign targets mental health crisis in Latino youth

What it does

This bill directs the federal government to launch a national mental health awareness campaign specifically targeting Hispanic and Latino youth, who experience disproportionately high rates of depression, suicidality, and untreated mental illness. The bill funds three main activities: (1) a $5 million/year campaign (2026–2030) to educate parents, youth, and school staff about mental health symptoms and treatment options in culturally appropriate ways; (2) a $1 million study of the current mental health crisis among Hispanic and Latino youth and barriers to care; and (3) a $1 million study of the shortage of Hispanic and Latino mental health professionals and strategies to recruit more.

Why we flagged it

The bill is a straightforward public health initiative designed to address documented mental health disparities in a specific population through federally funded awareness, research, and workforce development—no deregulation, no tax carve-outs, no private giveaways.

What the text implies

• The bill's success depends on sustained appropriations through 2030; if Congress fails to fund it, the campaign will not materialize despite authorization.
• The workforce study may reveal that increasing Hispanic/Latino mental health professionals requires changes to licensing, education, or visa policy—recommendations could drive follow-on legislation.
• Disaggregated data collection (by gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status) may surface mental health disparities within subgroups not previously tracked, potentially driving targeted interventions.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill addresses a documented public health disparity—Hispanic and Latino youth have higher rates of untreated mental illness, suicidality, and barriers to care—by funding culturally competent outreach, education, and research. No restrictions on citizens' rights or remedies are imposed; the bill expands access to information and services.

Who stands to gain

• mental health advocacy organizations (as contractors/consultants for campaign development)
• schools and community centers (as sites for workshops, screenings, and partnerships)
• mental health professional education programs (potential beneficiaries of workforce recruitment init

Named in the bill

Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Minority Health, Department of Education, National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Hotline (988), Hispanic and Latino youth population, Federally Qualified Health Centers

Where it stands

10 cosponsors: 10 Democrats.

• Nov 20, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Nov 20, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 2 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $100,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 8 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

Andrea Salinas, the sponsor, reported $700,715 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Counseling Association — $100,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.