Greetings!

I’m glad to have had the opportunity to contribute to vital discussions about youth mental health this June, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. Although a complete range of LGBTQIA+ identities are not commonly included in large-scale mental health studies, recent strong evidence demonstrates that members of this community are at higher risk for depression and anxiety disorders, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

You can read this month’s noteworthy happenings, including an event in support of LGBTQIA+ mental health resources, below.

Here’s what I’ve been working on:

Facilitated White House and Edward M. Kennedy Institute’s Screenings of Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness

This month, Patrick and I attended and contributed to the White House’s screening and Edward M. Kennedy Institute’s screening of Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness, a Ken Burns documentary which presents an unvarnished window into daily life with mental health challenges from first-person accounts of more than 20 young people, ranging in age from 11 to 27. We gathered, along with national leaders, to hear our youth’s stories, and discuss how we can drive change so that our young people never feel hopeless through health conflicts. To quote First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s poignant remarks from the White House reception, “I know that it starts with this: bringing the problem into the light. Having the conversation. Helping our children—and everyone who suffers from this disease—understand that they aren’t alone. None of us are.”

Led National PTA “Mobilizing for Our Youth” Panel Discussion

During their 125th Anniversary Convention, I moderated the “Mobilizing for Our Youth: How We Can Together Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis” panel discussion for the National Parent Teacher Association. There, I was joined by NJ Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman’s Senior Policy Advisor Brad Korten, CDC Acting Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Dr. Chris Jones, Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health and Director of the National Center for Safe Supportive Schools Dr. Sharon Hoover, and National PTA’s Healthy Minds Ambassador Shaton Berry. It was so encouraging to be surrounded by educators, parents, and health advocates alike motivated to fully support our youth.

Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 Passes House

We are happy to report that thanks to extensive advocacy work from groups including The Kennedy Forum, on June 22, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act (H.R. 7666)! This critical legislation would ensure state and local public employees have equal coverage for mental health and addiction treatment by ending a harmful parity opt-out option. It would also address the impending implementation of the 988 hotline and other crisis-related supports, including establishing a National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders.

Hosted “Ask a Therapist” Event with Brightline Highlighting LGBTQIA+ Support

As mentioned in May’s newsletter, I joined Brightline’s behavioral therapist Lina Rodas for a discussion on supporting today’s young people by answering common questions from both parents and the youth themselves. In our conversation, Lina and I covered trusting that your child knows their authentic self and supporting them if they begin to explore gender and sexuality—sentiments worth reviewing, especially during Pride Month when individuals internationally are celebrating who they are. You can catch our full Q&A session here.

Patrick and I had a big event ourselves this month as well—our eighth-grader Harper’s graduation. We’re looking forward to a summer full of events that will drive meaningful change, so that our kids and young people nationwide can start this coming school year with the greatest possible amount of support.

All the best,

Amy Kennedy

Pronouns: She/Her