The Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2026 addresses the mental health and substance use challenges facing teachers and school staff across the country. The bill directs the federal government to identify and share best practices for preventing suicide and supporting mental health among educators, establish a national awareness campaign to reduce stigma around seeking mental health services, and award grants to schools and educational institutions to create or improve mental health programs for staff. Eligible recipients include school districts, state education agencies, and universities, with priority given to schools serving low-income students. The legislation authorizes $10 million annually from 2026 through 2028 for the awareness initiative and $35 million annually for the same period to fund local mental health programs and educator training. The bill also requires the federal government to report back to Congress within two years on program outcomes and a broader review of educator mental health conditions, along with a Government Accountability Office review four years after enactment to evaluate existing federal mental health grant programs.
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