Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act”.
Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program to promote comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention efforts in schools, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Coordinated promotion of school comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention plans
In general— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, may carry out a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enhance services for school-age youth with mental health and behavioral health issues that can lead to low academic proficiency, low rates of school attendance and graduation, and other negative outcomes, including depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
Application— To be eligible for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate, including, at a minimum—
a description of identified mental health and behavioral health needs of school-age youth served by such eligible entity;
a description of revenue from Federal, State, local, private, and institutional sources the eligible entity has available to address the needs described in paragraph (1);
a description of the eligible entity's proposed plan for using the grant funds to increase access to evidence-based mental and behavioral health services;
a description of the eligible entity's proposed plan for improving mental health equity and assisting school-age youth most in need of mental health services;
a description of how such eligible entity will involve, as appropriate, school-age youth and peer representatives in the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes related to the use of grant funds and for purposes of achieving mental health equity;
a description of how such eligible entity will support other school-age youth and the school community if a school-age youth attempts suicide or dies by suicide;
a plan to—
implement the activities described in subsection (c); and
evaluate the outcomes of such activities; and
an assurance that such eligible entity will submit to the Secretary, for each fiscal year in which grant funds are used, a report with respect to—
the activities carried out under subsection (c); and
the outcomes of such activities, reported in accordance with the requirements of section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g; commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”).
Allowable uses of grant funds— A grant awarded under this section may be used by an eligible entity for—
evaluating existing program activities and prevention strategies;
educational seminars;
educational awareness campaign materials for school-age youth, families of school-age youth, and school staff to increase the awareness of potential mental and behavioral health issues of school-age youth;
peer-to-peer program support;
programs that assist schools in adopting a public health approach to mental health;
social media applications used for mental and behavioral health purposes, such as suicide risk and mental health screenings;
providing mental health services for school-age youth through telehealth;
training programs for school-age youth and teachers, school leaders, and other school personnel to learn to respond effectively to school-age youth with mental health and behavioral health issues that can lead to low academic proficiency, low rates of school attendance and graduation, and other negative outcomes, including depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts; and
providing culturally specific mental health and substance use education and prevention programs for school-age youth.
Geographical representation— In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that grant funds are distributed with the greatest possible geographical representation, including to State and local educational agencies that serve rural areas.
Technical assistance— The Secretary may provide technical assistance to grantees in carrying out this section.
Study and report—
Study— For each fiscal year during which grants are awarded under this section, the Secretary shall conduct a study on the results of the grant program.
Report— For each study conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of such study, including—
an evaluation of the outcomes of the grant program, including a summary of activities carried out by eligible entities and the results of such activities; and
recommendations with respect to improving access to mental health and behavioral heath services at schools, including efforts to reduce the occurrence of suicide and substance abuse.
Definitions— In this section:
Eligible entity— The term eligible entity means—
a local educational agency;
a State educational agency; or
an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization.
ESEA terms— The terms local educational agency and State educational agency have the meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
Indian Tribe; Tribal organization— The terms Indian Tribe and Tribal organization have the meanings given the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization”, respectively, in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
School-age youth— The term school-age youth means—
individuals between the ages of 5 and 17, inclusive; and
children with disabilities, as defined in section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(3)), who receive services under part B of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the heads of other appropriate agencies.
Authorization of appropriations—
In general— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
Set-aside— Of the amount appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, 10 percent shall be reserved for grants to eligible entities that serve Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations.