The U.S. Biden administration says it plans to spend a quarter of a billion dollars on a new national suicide prevention hotline. The need is there.

According to a recent report, nearly 50 million Americans experienced mental illness in 2019, and the pandemic hasn’t helped the situation.

This past year, some athletes and celebrities came forward and disclosed their own mental health challenges, helping put a spotlight on the issue.

CGTN’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports.