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Floor Speech
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Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Mental Health for Latinos Act. This important bill would boost our continued efforts to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse needs of Latino communities across the country.
In response to the mental health crisis in the Latino community, this legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a strategy to provide information on evidence-based practices, interventions, and treatments that are culturally and linguistically appropriate and increases awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses common among such populations, considering differences within subgroups, such as gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity.
The evidence is clear: We are experiencing a mental health crisis in the Latino community. Disparities within our healthcare system are preventing members of Latino communities from receiving lifesaving mental health services.
These barriers to care are causing too many to suffer in silence, and this must change. Presently, only 36.1 percent of Latino adults aged 18 or older with a mental illness received services in 2021, compared to the U.S. average of 47.2 percent. Between 2010 and 2020, the suicide rate among male Latino adults ages 20 to 64 increased by 35.7 percent, and the female rate increased by 40.6 percent. Even those who are able to access services rarely receive the effective, culturally competent care they need.
This bill would further our continued efforts to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse needs of Latino populations across the country. As our Nation confronts an unfolding mental health crisis, this critical legislation reinforces the timeless message that there is zero shame in asking for help and that seeking support is a sign of strength.
I would like to thank Congresswoman Napolitano for leading this legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Mental Health for Latinos Act as soon as possible. ______
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