1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor the Early Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth (EARLY) Minds Act (H.R. 1735 / S. 779). The United States is facing a youth mental health crisis. Nearly 40% of high school seniors report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, about one in five have seriously considered suicide, and nearly one in ten have attempted suicide. Despite these alarming trends, many young people are unable to access care until their symptoms become severe. The EARLY Minds Act would allow states to use up to 5% of Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) funding for upstream, evidence-based prevention and early intervention services, such as screening, outreach, and peer support. Currently, MHBG funds are largely restricted to individuals with a diagnosed mental health condition, meaning support is often unavailable until after significant distress has already occurred. Early intervention can help prevent mental health challenges from becoming more serious and reduce the need for costly crisis care. Providing states with this flexibility would help ensure young people and families can access support when it is most effective. I urge you to co-sponsor the EARLY Minds Act and support expanding upstream access to early mental health care. Thank you for your time and consideration.