April 21, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hannah Muldavin, Hannah.Muldavin@mail.house.gov

Reps. Trone, Riggleman, Davis Call on Leadership to Prioritize Youth Mental Health in Bipartisan Letter During COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative David Trone (D-MD), Denver Riggleman (R-VA), and Danny K. Davis (D-IL) announced a new effort to secure critical funding to address youth mental health in future legislation Congress will consider related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fear and anxiety about a disease like COVID-19 can be overwhelming for both adults and children. If left unaddressed for children and teens, childhood traumatic stress can have long-term effects lasting far beyond the pandemic, including an increased likelihood to suffer from chronic health problems and mental illness as an adult. The letter requests $80 million in grant funding for schools to link educational institutions with mental health agencies and $20 million for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

“We must act now to invest in the long-term mental health care of our children and young people, who are experiencing increased stress and anxiety because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rep. Trone (D-MD). “The coronavirus will only exacerbate the high levels of youth suicide and mental illness in our country. We need to make sure we give families and communities the evidence-based tools they need to mitigate the effects of this epidemic on our most vulnerable populations.”

“Millions of Americans, including young people, suffer the lasting impact of traumatic stress every day,” said Rep. Riggleman (R-VA). “During this time of pandemic that can cause and exacerbate traumatic stress, we cannot forget their need. I’m proud to co-sign this letter asking Congress to provide funding for trauma-informed care that is integral to the long term health of our youth.”

“Trauma and pandemic go hand in hand. Trauma Informed Care is one of the most effective and efficient responses we have to such trauma,” said Rep. Davis (D-IL). “Rolling out an expansion of Trauma Informed Care ought to be a priority for our response to COVID-19.”

In addition to Reps. Trone, Riggleman, and Davis, the letter was also signed by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Donna Shalala (D-FL), Josh Harder (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Andre Carson (D-IN), Susan Wild (D-PA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT).

See below for the text of the letter:

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McCarthy,

Thank you for your leadership in passing legislation to support the urgent needs of our communities as we address the COVID-19 pandemic. As Congress prepares for a Phase IV package to help address this worsening public health and economic crisis, we respectfully request that you prioritize funding for trauma-related programs to support the health and well-being of our nation’s youth and families.

As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted, fear and anxiety about a disease such as COVID-19 can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. People who may respond more intensely to the stress of a crisis include children and teens. Left unaddressed, childhood traumatic stress can have long-term effects beyond this pandemic. One in four youth – or 35 million Americans – experience a traumatic incident before the age of 16. It is clear this crisis will worsen this statistic and hurt our vulnerable communities the most. Children who experience adverse events are more likely to suffer from chronic health problems and mental illness as an adult. Those who have experienced more than four traumatic experiences are twice as likely to not complete high school, ten times as likely to misuse drugs, and twelve times more likely to commit suicide than their counterparts.

However, if communities are equipped with tools to address these stressors, evidence shows that the long-lasting impact of traumatic stress can be mitigated. In recent years, Congress has recognized the importance of identifying children suffering from trauma and early intervention when it dedicated an entire section of P.L. 115-271, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, to trauma-informed care. It is more critical now than ever before to fund and implement evidence-based approaches that promote resiliency in our young people and families.

We therefore respectfully request you examine and prioritize the following provisions:

$80 million in grant funding to expand trauma support services in schools

Nearly every school has students who have been exposed to traumatic experiences. P.L. 115-271 created new grants to expand evidence-based trauma support services in schools to improve access to effective interventions. The law authorizes the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use, to make grants to link educational agencies with mental health systems to increase student access to services. It is important that students have access to these interventions so that they can strengthen resiliency and recover from potential additional adverse experiences linked to the COVID-19 crisis when they return to school. The extended out-of-school time, necessary social distancing, and widespread harm caused by this pandemic may serve as an additional stressor for children who already experience significant challenges in their everyday lives. Schools should provide a safe space for youth, and it is essential to equip our educational settings with as many resources as possible to support vulnerable communities. An appropriation of $50 million is needed to establish and evaluate these critical grants to support our educational system as it helps mitigate the impact of trauma that too many of our students endure.

We request $30 million in supplemental appropriations for SAMSHA’s Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) state education agency grants. This program increases awareness of mental health issues among school-aged youth, provides training for adults who engage with youth to detect and respond to mental health needs, and connects youth, who may have behavioral health issues, and their families to needed services. Dedicated funding for current and additional grantees would help address the mental health needs of students associated with trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and extended school closures.

 $20 million in additional funding for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

We request $20 million in supplemental appropriations for the existing National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). A related provision was included in Sen. Patty Murray’s/Rep. Bobby Scott’s Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act (S.3489/H.R.6275). The NCTSN works to raise the quality of care and increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events. The NCTSN can use their existing network to quickly provide resources and support to communities to address the traumatic impacts of the pandemic. Funds could also flow to new grantees to further the reach of this work. We specifically request $10 million in dedicated funds to provide resources for families, caregivers, early care and education programs, teachers, principals, administrators, and other school leaders to care for children adversely affected by stress associated with COVID-19 and $10 million dedicated to addressing secondary trauma to support our first responders, health workforce, and their children.

Youth suicide and mental health disorder rates are already climbing, and we cannot allow them to skyrocket due to this crisis. We must address this in a timely and effective manner. Thank you for your consideration of our request and your continued leadership to support our nation’s youth and families.

Sincerely,

In Congress, David Trone has made investing in and reforming the nation’s mental health system a top priority. Trone’s Freshmen Working Group on Addiction has supported dozens of mental health bills related to addiction. In June, he introduced the bipartisan Higher Education Mental Health Act, which passed the Education and Labor Committee. In November, he held a roundtable with first responders to discuss the urgent need for mental health care for those on the front lines. He has also pushed for mental health support for incarcerated individuals, introducing a bipartisan bill in February that would support mental health treatment for those in prison and returning to society. Just last week, he held a webinar on Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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