Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6226 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6226 To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a national awareness and outreach campaign to improve mental health among the Hispanic and Latino youth population. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 20, 2025 Ms. Salinas (for herself, Ms. Stansbury, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Carson, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Torres of New York, Ms. Barragan, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) 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 a national awareness and outreach campaign to improve mental health among the Hispanic and Latino youth 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 ``Latino Youth Mental Health Empowerment Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Hispanic and Latino youth often experience and suffer from toxic stress, which stems from prolonged stress, trauma, or adverse childhood experiences. (2) At least 78 percent of Hispanic and Latino youth suffer from at least one adverse childhood experience, which can harm a child's physical and mental health. (3) Among Hispanic and Latino youth, approximately 60 percent were more likely to report poor mental health compared to their counterparts. (4) About 42 percent of Hispanic and Latino youth have reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. (5) Approximately 18 percent of Hispanic and Latino high school students have seriously contemplated suicide. (6) Hispanic and Latinos are less likely than any other ethnic groups to receive clinical or school-based mental illness tr