Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill creates a federal grant program to support peer-to-peer mental health programs in secondary schools across the country. Under the program, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use would award competitive grants of up to $250,000 each to local school districts, tribal organizations, and the Bureau of Indian Education to implement or expand programs where trained student peer support specialists provide mental health support to their classmates. The funded programs must include training in recognizing mental health warning signs, suicide prevention, and connecting students to professional services, along with oversight by certified supervisors and school-based mental health providers. The bill authorizes $20 million in annual funding for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, with priority given to schools establishing new programs or those in areas with high suicide rates or recent trauma. The bill also requires federal evaluation to measure program effectiveness and track improvements in student mental health outcomes.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.