{"id":1988,"date":"2022-02-10T17:35:53","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T17:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rosen-testing.senate.gov\/2022\/02\/10\/rosen-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-address-k-12-student-mental-health-crisis\/"},"modified":"2023-01-31T17:44:21","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T17:44:21","slug":"rosen-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-address-k-12-student-mental-health-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rosen.senate.gov\/es\/2022\/02\/10\/rosen-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-address-k-12-student-mental-health-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Rosen, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address K-12 Student Mental Health Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clark County School District Has Reported An Increase In Student Suicides While Schools Were Closed For In-Person Learning, Rosen Bill Provides Resources To Address That<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON DC<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b> \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), both members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the bipartisan Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act<\/i>, which would authorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide direct funding assistance to school districts for comprehensive student mental health promotion and suicide prevention efforts. This type of funding assistance from SAMHSA is currently available for colleges and universities, but not for K-12 school districts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have worsened student mental health challenges that existed before the pandemic, leading to higher rates of student depression, anxiety, and suicide. These challenges have now reached a crisis point, and the American Academy of Pediatrics <\/span><\/span><\/span>recently declared<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> a \u201cNational State of Emergency in Children\u2019s Mental Health.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2020, schools in Clark County, Nevada <\/span><\/span><\/span>reported<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> an increase in student suicides while schools were closed for in-person learning \u2013 more than double the rate in 2019. Last week during a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Rosen <\/span><\/span><\/span>asked mental health experts<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> about actions the federal government could take to provide direct, timely assistance to schools to help prevent student mental health challenges and address suicide attempts, and previewed her bipartisan work to address the growing student mental health crisis.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs we\u2019ve seen in Nevada and across the country, this pandemic has exacerbated the existing student mental health crisis \u2013 leading to an increase in student anxiety, depression, and suicides, tragically including 20 in the Clark County School District alone,\u201d dijo el Senador Rosen. <\/b>\u201cAs we work together to recover from COVID-19, we must prioritize supporting our students and their mental health needs. My bipartisan legislation would allow the federal government to fund comprehensive, equitable, and evidence-based resources and programs in K-12 schools to further promote our students\u2019 mental health, and help prevent student suicides.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a heartbreaking reality that the mental health crisis in Alaska is surging among our youth. We\u2019ve seen an alarming increase in mental and behavioral health issues and suicide attempts, and unfortunately, there are limited resources available to help the kids in our communities,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. <\/b>\u201cBy allowing funding to go directly to schools to enhance and expand mental and behavioral health services offered to students, those experiencing mental health struggles will have greater access to culturally-relevant services and prevention programs. As we address the current mental health crisis, our children should know their wellbeing and safety is always a priority\u2014and that it\u2019s okay to ask for the help you need.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges for everyone, but especially our young people, resulting in an unprecedented youth mental health crisis. Our students deserve the best education we can deliver, including focusing on and addressing their social-emotional and mental health needs,\u201d said Jesus F. Jara, Superintendent of the Clark County School District.<\/b> \u201cWith all of the resources CCSD currently provides to support the mental health needs of our children, we know our students respond in their individual ways and want to meet them where they are to support them in every way possible. The \u2018Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act\u2019 will enable us to seek additional funding to further meet the needs of our children, and the Clark County School District fully supports the intent of the bill and applauds its sponsors for introducing it.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a career educator of 24 years and nearly 7 of those as a superintendent, I have never experienced such a heartbreaking mental health crisis as we have now among students, staff, and families,\u201d said Wayne L. Workman, Superintendent of the Lyon County School District.<\/b> \u201cAlthough we can see the serious negative effects of the COVID virus on our youth, it pales in comparison to the devastating mental health crisis the pandemic has created. The Lyon County School District is in full support of any measures that will help our children, especially initiatives such as the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act. Our children must be socially and emotionally healthy if they are to learn and achieve their dreams. This bill will help make these dreams a reality.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs COVID-19 continues to impact the mental health of our nation\u2019s young people, schools will play a vital role in both early detection and intervention. Schools must be given the tools to do so effectively,\u201d said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association.<\/b> \u201cAPA applauds Senators Rosen and Murkowski for introducing this critical bipartisan legislation, which recognizes that local school districts understand their students best and should be provided the resources to address both their education and psychological well-being.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAFSP applauds Senator Rosen and Senator Murkowski on their bipartisan efforts to safeguard the mental health of our children, and reduce their rates of suicide,\u201d said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Senior Vice President for Public Policy, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.<\/b> \u201cAs we know, the country is currently in the midst of a youth mental health crisis, and the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act will equip schools and communities with the tools necessary to provide equitable mental health care through evidence-based services. AFSP is proud to endorse this legislation, and urges Congress to take swift action to support and protect our children.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Young people today are facing unprecedented challenges that can have a devastating effect on their mental health,” said John MacPhee, CEO of The Jed Foundation.<\/strong> “That is why The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that works to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation\u2019s teens and young adults, applauds Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for introducing the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act. This bill, if signed into law, would support schools in equipping students to navigate mental health challenges, and to recognize and connect students in need with mental health care.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Under current law, SAMHSA may only provide direct financial support for mental health services to colleges and universities, but not K-12 schools. SAMHSA grant funding authorized by the Rosen-Murkowski bill would support a wide range of mental health evaluation, planning, programming, and suicide prevention strategies in K-12 schools, including:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n