This bill expands mental health and substance use services specifically for first responders, including firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and 911 dispatchers. The legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a comprehensive mental health program within two years that includes 24-hour mental health care, a dedicated hotline connected to the existing 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and education programs for first responders and their families to reduce stigma and encourage treatment. The bill also creates a peer support counseling program using trained retired and active first responders to help their colleagues and establishes competitive grants of up to $150,000 to organizations for operating mobile mental health crisis units in disaster areas. The program authorizes $5 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for the mobile crisis services, with grants running for six months to two years, and directs federal agencies to research best practices for preventing suicide among first responders.
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