Student Mental Health Helpline Act

2/5/2024, 2:30 PM

Student Mental Health Helpline Act

This bill authorizes grants to support student mental health and safety helplines (i.e., a free, confidential service that is accessible via telephone and other communication platforms that assists students facing challenges with abuse, bullying, depression, self-harm, and related issues). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) may award the grants to agencies or other subdivisions of a state, Indian tribe, or local government that are primarily responsible for health, public health, or education.

Recipients must use funds to establish or maintain a helpline that provides information to school officials (to the extent permitted by federal privacy standards for health information) about student mental health and safety concerns and related activities.

The bill also requires SAMHSA to report on the feasibility of setting up a nationally available student mental health and safety helpline.

Congress
118

Number
HR - 822

Introduced on
2023-02-02

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

2/2/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Student Mental Health Helpline Act

This bill authorizes grants to support student mental health and safety helplines (i.e., a free, confidential service that is accessible via telephone and other communication platforms that assists students facing challenges with abuse, bullying, depression, self-harm, and related issues). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) may award the grants to agencies or other subdivisions of a state, Indian tribe, or local government that are primarily responsible for health, public health, or education.

Recipients must use funds to establish or maintain a helpline that provides information to school officials (to the extent permitted by federal privacy standards for health information) about student mental health and safety concerns and related activities.

The bill also requires SAMHSA to report on the feasibility of setting up a nationally available student mental health and safety helpline.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants to eligible entities to establish or maintain a student mental health and safety helpline, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Child health
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency communications systems
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Mental health
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary3/17/2023

Student Mental Health Helpline Act

This bill authorizes grants to support student mental health and safety helplines (i.e., a free, confidential service that is accessible via telephone and other communication platforms th...


Latest Action11/9/2023
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Bonamici asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 822, a bill originally introduced by Representative Stewart, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting repri...