Public Health & Data
Browse Related Strategy Recommendations
Fund research on social media's impact on youth mental health
Congress should increase funding for research on the impact of social media and technology on youth mental health and for consumer education about potential mental health risks online.[1]
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Ban assault weapons and dangerous hardware
Given the trauma and mental health impacts of mass shootings, Congress should ban the sale and possession of assault weapons and dangerous hardware including silencers, high-capacity magazines, bump stocks, and other conversion devices.[1]
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Create a data surveillance system
Congress should fund the creation of a robust national mental health and substance use public health surveillance system within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Adopt and enforce extreme risk protection order laws
To reduce the risk of firearm-related violence and suicide, the Department of Justice should encourage states to adopt and enforce Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) laws, which allow law enforcement and family members to petition the court to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others.[1] Congress should appropriate funds through the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program to support the implementation and enforcement of ERPO laws, including funding for training programs for law enforcement and mental health professionals.
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Secure gun storage
To prevent suicides and accidental shootings of youth, Congress should pass legislation such as the Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act to establish federal statutory requirements to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises.
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Pass the Reconnecting Communities Act
Congress should pass the Reconnecting Communities Act, which would address infrastructure barriers that impede mobility and connectivity, focusing on communities of color and low-income communities. It would also create a program under the Department of Transportation (DOT) to award grants for community engagement, education, and capacity building; planning and feasibility studies; and capital construction.[1]