The Suicide Prevention Act authorizes two main federal grant programs to address suicide and self-harm in the United States. First, it establishes a surveillance program that funds state, local, tribal, and territorial public health departments to track and monitor self-harm and suicide data in real time, sharing this information with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify at-risk populations and respond to suicide clusters. Second, the bill creates a grant program for hospital emergency departments to screen patients for self-harm and suicide, provide short-term prevention services, and connect patients to long-term care—including funding to hire and train mental health professionals. The legislation prioritizes grants to areas with higher-than-average suicide rates, particularly rural and underserved communities. The bill authorizes $30 million annually for each program from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, requires a report to Congress within three years on surveillance findings, and mandates the development of national screening standards within 180 days of enactment.
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