Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act”.
Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve mental and behavioral health services on campuses of institutions of higher education.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
The 2014 Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors Survey found that the average ratio of counselors to students on campus is nearly 1 to 1,833 and is often far higher on large campuses. The International Association of Counseling Services accreditation standards recommends 1 counselor per 1,000 to 1,500 students.
College counselors report that 10 percent of enrolled students sought counseling in 2014.
More than 90 percent of counseling directors believe there is an increase in the number of students coming to campus with severe psychological problems; today, 44 percent of the students who visit campus counseling centers are dealing with severe mental illness, up from 16 percent in 2000, and 24 percent are on psychiatric medication, up from 17 percent in 2000.
The majority of campus counseling directors report that the demand for services and the severity of student needs are growing without an increase in resources.
Many students who need help never receive it. Only 15 percent of college and university students who commit suicide received campus counseling. Of students who seriously consider suicide each year, only 52 percent of them seek any professional help at all.
A 2015 American College Health Association survey of more than 93,000 college and university students revealed that, within the last 12 months, 57 percent of students report having felt overwhelming anxiety, 35 percent felt so depressed it was difficult to function, and 48 percent felt hopeless. However, only 12 percent of students reported receiving professional treatment for anxiety within the past 12 months, and 11 percent reported receiving treatment for depression within the past 12 months.
The 2015 American College Health Association survey also found that 9 percent of students have seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, a 20-percent increase compared to 2012.
Research conducted between 1997 and 2009, and presented at the 118th annual convention of the American Psychological Association found that more students are grappling with depression and anxiety disorders than were a decade ago. The study found that of students who sought college or university counseling, 41 percent had moderate to severe depression in 2009, that number was 34 percent in 1997.
A survey conducted by the student counseling center at the University of Idaho in 2000 found that 77 percent of students who responded reported that they were more likely to stay in school because of counseling and that their school performance would have declined without counseling.
Students with psychological issues often struggle academically and are at risk for dropping out of school. Counseling has been shown to address these issues while having a positive impact on students remaining in school. A 6-year longitudinal study found college and university students receiving counseling to have a 11.4-percent higher retention rate than the general college and university population.
A national survey of college and university students living with mental health conditions, conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, found that 64 percent of students who experience mental health problems in college or a university and withdraw from school do so because of their mental health issues. The survey also found that 50 percent of that group never accessed mental health services and supports.
Sec. 3 Improving mental and behavioral health on college campuses
Title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 520E–2 (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36b) the following:
“520E–3. Grants to improve mental and behavioral health on college campuses
“(a) Purpose—It is the purpose of this section, with respect to settings at institutions of higher education, to—
“(1) increase access to mental and behavioral health services;
“(2) foster and improve the prevention of mental and behavioral health disorders, and the promotion of mental health;
“(3) improve the identification and treatment for students at risk;
“(4) improve collaboration and the development of appropriate levels of mental and behavioral health care;
“(5) reduce the stigma for students with mental health disorders and enhance their access to mental health services; and
“(6) improve the efficacy of outreach efforts.
“(b) Grants—The Secretary, acting through the Administrator and in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to improve mental and behavioral health services and outreach on campuses of institutions of higher education.
“(c) Eligibility—To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (b), an entity shall—
“(1) be an institution of higher education; and
“(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the information required under subsection (d).
“(d) Application—An application for a grant under this section shall include—
“(1) a description of the population to be targeted by the program carried out under the grant, including the particular mental and behavioral health needs of the students involved;
“(2) a description of the Federal, State, local, private, and institutional resources available for meeting the needs of such students at the time the application is submitted;
“(3) an outline of the objectives of the program carried out under the grant;
“(4) a description of activities, services, and training to be provided under the program, including planned outreach strategies to reach students not currently seeking services;
“(5) a plan to seek input from community mental health providers, when available, community groups, and other public and private entities in carrying out the program;
“(6) a plan, when applicable, to meet the specific mental and behavioral health needs of veterans attending institutions of higher education;
“(7) a description of the methods to be used to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of the program; and
“(8) an assurance that grant funds will be used to supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds available to carry out activities of the type carried out under the grant.
“(e) Special considerations—In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications that describe programs to be carried out under the grant that—
“(1) demonstrate the greatest need for new or additional mental and behavioral health services, in part by providing information on current ratios of students to mental and behavioral health professionals;
“(2) propose effective approaches for initiating or expanding campus services and supports using evidence-based practices, including peer support strategies;
“(3) target traditionally underserved populations and populations most at risk;
“(4) where possible, demonstrate an awareness of, and a willingness to, coordinate with a community mental health center or other mental health resource in the community, to support screening and referral of students requiring intensive services;
“(5) identify how the institution of higher education will address psychiatric emergencies, including how information will be communicated with families or other appropriate parties;
“(6) propose innovative practices that will improve efficiencies in clinical care, broaden collaborations with primary care, or improve prevention programs; and
“(7) demonstrate the greatest potential for replication and dissemination.
“(f) Use of funds—Amounts received under a grant under this section may be used to—
“(1) provide mental and behavioral health services to students, including prevention, promotion of mental health, voluntary screening, early intervention, voluntary assessment, treatment, management, and education services relating to the mental and behavioral health of students;
“(2) conduct research through a counseling or health center at the institution of higher education involved regarding improving the mental and behavioral health of students through clinical services, outreach, prevention, or academic success, in a manner that is in compliance with the health privacy and security rules promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note);
“(3) provide outreach services to notify students about the existence of mental and behavioral health services;
“(4) educate students, families, faculty, staff, and communities to increase awareness of mental health issues;
“(5) support student groups on campus, including athletic teams, that engage in activities to educate students, including activities to reduce stigma surrounding mental and behavioral disorders, and promote mental health wellness;
“(6) employ appropriately trained staff;
“(7) provide training to students, faculty, and staff to respond effectively to students with mental and behavioral health issues;
“(8) expand mental health training through internship, post-doctorate, and residency programs;
“(9) develop and support evidence-based and emerging best practices, including a focus on culturally and linguistically appropriate best practices; and
“(10) evaluate and disseminate best practices to other institutions of higher education.
“(g) Duration of grants—A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period not to exceed 3 years.
“(h) Evaluation and reporting
“(1) Evaluation—Not later than 18 months after the date on which a grant is received under this section, the eligible entity involved shall submit to the Secretary the results of an evaluation to be conducted by the entity (or by another party under contract with the entity) concerning the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the grant and plans for the sustainability of such efforts.
“(2) Report—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the results of—
“(A) the evaluations conducted under paragraph (1); and
“(B) an evaluation conducted by the Secretary to analyze the effectiveness and efficacy of the activities conducted with grants under this section.
“(i) Technical assistance—The Secretary may provide technical assistance to grantees in carrying out this section.
“(j) Definition—In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
“(k) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
“520E–4. Mental and behavioral health outreach and education on college campuses
“(a) Purpose—It is the purpose of this section to increase access to, and reduce the stigma associated with, mental health services to ensure that students at institutions of higher education have the support necessary to successfully complete their studies.
“(b) National Public Education Campaign—The Secretary, acting through the Administrator and in collaboration with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall convene an interagency, public-private sector working group to plan, establish, and begin coordinating and evaluating a targeted public education campaign that is designed to focus on mental and behavioral health on the campuses of institutions of higher education. Such campaign shall be designed to—
“(1) improve the general understanding of mental health and mental health disorders;
“(2) encourage help-seeking behaviors relating to the promotion of mental health, prevention of mental health disorders, and treatment of such disorders;
“(3) make the connection between mental and behavioral health and academic success; and
“(4) assist the general public in identifying the early warning signs and reducing the stigma of mental illness.
“(c) Composition—The working group convened under subsection (b) shall include—
“(1) mental health consumers, including students and family members;
“(2) representatives of institutions of higher education;
“(3) representatives of national mental and behavioral health associations and associations of institutions of higher education;
“(4) representatives of health promotion and prevention organizations at institutions of higher education;
“(5) representatives of mental health providers, including community mental health centers; and
“(6) representatives of private- and public-sector groups with experience in the development of effective public health education campaigns.
“(d) Plan—The working group under subsection (b) shall develop a plan that—
“(1) targets promotional and educational efforts to the age population of students at institutions of higher education and individuals who are employed in settings of institutions of higher education, including through the use of roundtables;
“(2) develops and proposes the implementation of research-based public health messages and activities;
“(3) provides support for local efforts to reduce stigma by using the National Health Information Center as a primary point of contact for information, publications, and service program referrals; and
“(4) develops and proposes the implementation of a social marketing campaign that is targeted at the population of students attending institutions of higher education and individuals who are employed in settings of institutions of higher education.
“(e) Definition—In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
“(f) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.”
Sec. 4 Interagency Working Group on College Mental Health
Purpose— It is the purpose of this section to provide for the establishment of a College Campus Task Force to discuss mental and behavioral health concerns on campuses of institutions of higher education.
Establishment— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish a College Campus Task Force (referred to in this section as the “Task Force”) to discuss mental and behavioral health concerns on campuses of institutions of higher education.
Membership— The Task Force shall be composed of a representative from each Federal agency (as appointed by the head of the agency) that has jurisdiction over, or is affected by, mental health and education policies and projects, including—
the Department of Education;
the Department of Health and Human Services;
the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
such other Federal agencies as the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in consultation with the Secretary, determines to be appropriate.
Duties— The Task Force shall—
serve as a centralized mechanism to coordinate a national effort—
to discuss and evaluate evidence and knowledge on mental and behavioral health services available to, and the prevalence of mental health illness among, the age population of students attending institutions of higher education in the United States;
to determine the range of effective, feasible, and comprehensive actions to improve mental and behavioral health on campuses of institutions of higher education;
to examine and better address the needs of the age population of students attending institutions of higher education dealing with mental illness;
to survey Federal agencies to determine which policies are effective in encouraging, and how best to facilitate outreach without duplicating, efforts relating to mental and behavioral health promotion;
to establish specific goals within and across Federal agencies for mental health promotion, including determinations of accountability for reaching those goals;
to develop a strategy for allocating responsibilities and ensuring participation in mental and behavioral health promotions, particularly in the case of competing agency priorities;
to coordinate plans to communicate research results relating to mental and behavioral health amongst the age population of students attending institutions of higher education to enable reporting and outreach activities to produce more useful and timely information;
to provide a description of evidence-based best practices, model programs, effective guidelines, and other strategies for promoting mental and behavioral health on campuses of institutions of higher education;
to make recommendations to improve Federal efforts relating to mental and behavioral health promotion on campuses of institutions of higher education and to ensure Federal efforts are consistent with available standards and evidence and other programs in existence as of the date of enactment of this Act; and
to monitor Federal progress in meeting specific mental and behavioral health promotion goals as they relate to settings of institutions of higher education;
consult with national organizations with expertise in mental and behavioral health, especially those organizations working with the age population of students attending institutions of higher education; and
consult with and seek input from mental health professionals working on campuses of institutions of higher education as appropriate.
Meetings—
In general— The Task Force shall meet not less than 3 times each year.
Annual conference— The Secretary shall sponsor an annual conference on mental and behavioral health in settings of institutions of higher education to enhance coordination, build partnerships, and share best practices in mental and behavioral health promotion, data collection, analysis, and services.
Definition— In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.