FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Contact: Shaadi Ahmadzadeh // press@youthpowerproject.org // (310) 709-4208
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN HOUSE RESOLUTION DECLARING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
Youth-led group Youth Power Project’s resolution declares declining youth mental health a national crisis and provides lawmakers with recommendations on how to combat the crisis
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Seth Moulton alongside Representatives David Trone, Chris Stewart, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Bonnie Watson-Coleman introduced H.Res.434, declaring a mental health crisis among youth in the United States and outlines a series of recommendations for states and public agencies to improve the landscape of youth mental health.
“Having struggled with my own mental health from a young age and losing close friends to mental health and substance abuse disorders, this issue is incredibly personal to me,” said resolution author Saanvi Arora of the Youth Power Project. “I wasn’t able to seek mental healthcare for what I was experiencing until just a few months ago after starting college; like so many of my peers, I struggled alone for a long time. If anything, our experiences and our work within communities have shown us that our educational systems must empower and give young people the resources to exercise more control over their own wellbeing. I am proud to work with my peers to consolidate and present comprehensive, informed recommendations to make mental healthcare more accessible.”
“The Youth Power Project proudly authored a United States House of Representatives resolution urging leaders to address the youth mental health crisis,” remarked Deputy Executive Director of the Youth Power Project, Ayaan Moledina. “This resolution embodies young people’s agency in informing and determining the common sense measures that leaders at the federal, state, and local levels can take to adequately address the mental health crisis. We are excited to work with our partners in Congress to move this forward in a bipartisan manner in support of the nation’s youth. We are proud to introduce H.Res.434 with Congressman Seth Moulton and others in order to bring attention to this critical issue.”
The resolution includes provisions encouraging resource divestment from punitive measures, prioritizing recovery for students facing mental health difficulties, and recognizing the deep connections between physical and mental health. The resolution also advocates for a comprehensive approach to contact high-risk populations and isolated communities with resources to support young people suffering from mental health disorders.
The Youth Power Project breaks barriers between lawmakers and youth by centering the stories and voices of young people in policy making at the local, state, and federal level.
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