Yesterday, amid attacks on LGBTQI+ rights by extreme politicians, Representative Sharice Davids wrote a guest column in the Advocate, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance support for LGBTQI+ youth mental health and pass her Pride in Mental Health Act. A recent Trevor Project report found that nearly 90 percent of LGBTQI+ youth believe politics negatively impacted their well-being, including their sense of self and safety. Davids’ bill aims to address these disparities by closing information gaps and improving both physical and mental health for at-risk youth.

Read more in the Advocate: Worsening mental health of LGBTQI+ youth calls for new federal policy that I’m leading

“No child should ever feel like they don’t belong in our world. Sadly, many LGBTQI+ youth grapple with their differences, perceiving them as daunting obstacles to their well-being.

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It’s crucial to recognize the unique challenges LGBTQI+ youth face regarding their mental well-being and to end the bullying and animosity they often endure, not only from their peers but also from certain politicians across our nation.

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LGBTQI+ youth not only contend with typical childhood hurdles, like social anxiety and hyperactivity, but also face discrimination through extreme legislative proposals at all levels of government. To make matters worse, the current U.S. mental health care system lacks the capacity to adequately address mental health challenges for all youth. Simply put, it’s hard to be a kid in our society. That’s why I’m supporting proactive measures to protect our youth, including my bill, the Pride in Mental Health Act.

This bill is straightforward yet impactful, offering support to LGBTQI+ youth who have nowhere else to turn for help. Through a new federal grant program, it would increase access to culturally competent and affirming mental health services, offer training for health care providers to better grasp the unique needs of LGBTQI+ individuals, and gather updated data on the mental and behavioral health of LGBTQI+ youth. 

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Making these investments in LGBTQI+ youth mental health is not only a moral imperative but also a smart public health strategy that benefits our entire community and economy. In the Greater Kansas City Area, the annual cost of untreated mental illness has grown to cost $624 million annually. Smarter policy means saving taxpayer money and getting people more help.

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We have already lost too many young people who believed the world would be better without them. LGBTQI+ youth deserve attention and action from their elected leaders regarding the challenges they face. It’s not just about statistics or policies — it’s about the lives and futures of these young individuals who deserve every opportunity to flourish and feel valued in a world that embraces their uniqueness. We must pass the Pride in Mental Health Act.”