Advancing Youth Mental Health: Perspectives from Youth and Families
When
Where
216 Hart Senate Office Building120 Constitution Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
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Advancing Youth Mental Health: Perspectives from Youth and Families
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
10:00 – 11:45 a.m. ET Panel Event
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. ET Networking Reception
**Please note the new room location above**
America’s youth mental health and substance use crisis continues to demand bipartisan action. Rates of depression and anxiety among young people were rising before the pandemic, which only worsened the situation. Although overdose deaths have decreased, youth overdose deaths remain well-above pre-pandemic levels. This issue affects communities nationwide and transcends political divides. While no single policy will solve the crisis, bipartisan solutions can make a meaningful impact.
To address this, the Bipartisan Policy Center convened the Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force to develop evidence-based, pragmatic policy solutions in three areas:
- Safe and secure social media use
- Health care delivery system
- Prevention, early identification, and intervention
Join BPC and task force members on Capitol Hill to hear directly from youth and caregivers who have experienced the crisis firsthand discuss proposed bipartisan policy solutions and why they are urgently needed.
Agenda:
Featured Remarks:
- Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) | Co-Founder, Senate Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus; Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Honorary Congressional Working Group Member
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) | Co-Founder, Senate Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus
Finding Common Ground on Youth Mental Health:
- Steve Beshear | Former Governor (D-KY); Co-Chair, Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force
- John Kasich | Former Governor and Representative (R-OH); Co-Chair, Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force
- Margaret Spellings | President and CEO, Bipartisan Policy Center (Moderator)
Youth Perspectives:
- Zoe Ilgenfritz | Student, George Washington University; Crisis Text Line Volunteer
- Sophie Szew | Student, Stanford University; SAMHSA National Advisory Council Member; Member, Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force
- Michael Schmitt |Administrative Coordinator, Recover Revolution; Member, Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force
- Sema Sgaier, PhD | Co-Founder and CEO, Surgo Health (Moderator)
Caregiver Perspectives:
- Scott Hadland, MD | Chief, Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Angela Kimball | Chief Advocacy Officer, Inseparable; Member, Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force
- Laura Willing, MD | Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Children’s National Hospital
- Joseph Choi | Health Care Reporter, The Hill (Moderator)
This event is hosted by BPC and BPCA and has been designed to meet Congressional Ethics guidelines for a widely attended event.
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