Recent data from HHS highlights that more than half of all Americans live in a region lacking enough mental health professionals
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said that they are introducing a bill that would bolster the behavioral and mental health care workforce by providing high school and community college students with educational opportunities to learn about and pursue good-paying jobs in the health care industry.
“A broken mental health care system is leaving millions of Americans struggling,” Wyden said. “This bill takes a solid step to tackling our country’s growing mental health crisis by increasing the number of providers to meet the growing needs of communities in Oregon and nationwide.”
“In my conversations all across our state, I hear about the struggles of finding mental health care services. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to tackle this crisis,” Merkley said. “The Mental Health Career Promotion Act will grow the pipeline of future mental health professionals by expanding access to quality training and educational opportunities. I’ll keep fighting to ensure all Americans can access the mental health care they need and deserve.”
Data shows Oregon lagging behind much of the country in addressing the ongoing youth mental health crisis. Nationwide, two in five students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness within the last 30 days, and one in five reported in 2023 they have seriously considered attempting suicide.
Students struggling with mental health are often left untreated because they do not know where to seek help, and there are not enough trained professionals to meet the growing demand.
The Mental Health Career Promotion Act would help address these challenges by:
- Providing educational presentations to students that increase exposure to and knowledge of mental health;
- Coordinating internship and externship opportunities for students interested in mental health;
- Arranging opportunities for students to interact with and shadow mental health care professionals; and
- Establishing student mentorship opportunities in mental health.
The bill was led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., and Becca Balint, D-Vt. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., and U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.
The text of the bill is here.
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