Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act

This bill seeks to improve mental health services and outcomes for youth, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic minority groups. It amends the Public Health Service Act to allow for special consideration for entities serving a high proportion of racial and ethnic minority groups when awarding primary and behavioral health care grants. The bill also significantly increases appropriations for this grant program, authorizing $60 million for fiscal year 2025 and $80 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031. To address knowledge gaps, the bill directs the National Institutes of Health to arrange for a comprehensive study on mental health disparities research gaps in racial and ethnic minority groups. This study will assess the impact of factors like community violence and structural bias, and propose recommendations to remedy these gaps. Furthermore, the legislation promotes the development and dissemination of best practices and core competencies for health professions training programs to better address mental health disparities among these populations. The bill also mandates the development of a national outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and mental health and reduce stigma within racial and ethnic minority communities, ensuring the strategy is culturally and linguistically appropriate. Finally, it authorizes substantial additional funding for the National Institutes of Health to support clinical research on disparities and implement youth mental health initiatives, and provides significant appropriations for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to further its mission.