MINDS Act

The MINDS Act establishes a dedicated Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Coordinator at USAID to oversee the integration of mental health services across all U.S. international development and humanitarian assistance programs. It mandates that all such programs must be evidence-based, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and prioritize vulnerable groups like conflict-affected children, displaced populations, and those impacted by diseases like Ebola or COVID-19. The bill requires annual reports to Congress detailing funding, program integration progress, and barriers to implementation, with a 5-year sunset provision. This legislation directly affects USAID and State Department programming worldwide, aiming to systematically address mental health needs in global aid efforts.