Pappas Introduces Two Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Mental Health Services for Students

During National Suicide Prevention Month, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced two bipartisan bills, the Mental Health Services for Students Act, legislation to bring critical, on-site mental health services to students in public schools, and the Prevent Youth Suicide Act, legislation to equip educators with tools to identify students at risk of suicide and provide life-saving interventions.

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10–24. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40% of high school students nationwide reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023, and 1 in 10 attempted suicide. Despite the urgent need, most school districts lack consistent training and resources to help teachers spot the warning signs when a student is struggling. Without clear guidance, those signs can be missed and students are left without support.

“Every child should know they have someone in their corner when they need it. Our educators do incredible work to teach and support students, and this legislation would ensure that teachers and schools have the training, resources, and processes to help children and connect them with mental health professionals,” said Congressman Pappas. “As we work to tackle the mental health crisis, we must listen to the needs of our children and teachers and take action to strengthen resources and support. No one should ever feel alone in this fight.”

The Mental Health Services for Students Act builds on the success of existing programs like the Youth Suicide Prevention Program, which has shown how early intervention can reduce mental health crises and improve outcomes for students and their families. Key provisions include:

• Providing access to more comprehensive on-site mental health care services for students and their communities by revising, increasing funding for, and expanding the scope of SAMHSA’s Project AWARE.
• Support for training school staff to recognize signs of trauma, mental health disorders, and suicide risk.
• Creation of partnerships between schools, health providers, law enforcement, and community organizations to respond to child and adolescent trauma.
• Mechanisms for students to report incidents of violence or threats to safety.
• Rigorous evaluation and reporting requirements to measure program success and identify best practices.

Text of the bill can be found here.

This legislation is endorsed by the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), The Trevor Project, the National Eating Disorders Association, the Children’s Hospital Association, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), Sandy Hook Promise, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the American Counseling Association, and more.

The Prevent Youth Suicide Actwould require the U.S. Department of Education to implement a new national standard for suicide prevention across middle and high schools. Specifically, the bill would:

• Provide biennial, evidence-based suicide prevention training for all licensed school personnel working with students in grades 6–12.
• Establish clear protocols to recognize and respond to students showing signs of distress, including guidance on reporting concerns to parents and school counselors.
• Create referral systems connecting students with mental health professionals both in and outside of school.
• Ensure trauma-informed care by training educators to understand and respond appropriately to the impact of trauma in student lives.

Text of the bill can be found here.