H.R. 6940: Hope Heals Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Hope Heals Act of 2026, is designed to improve how the United States government addresses mental health crisis prevention and awareness. Here are the key components of the bill:

Assessment of Current Services

• The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to conduct an assessment within 180 days after the bill becomes law.
• The assessment aims to evaluate how well different Executive departments coordinate their services to identify people experiencing a mental health crisis or those concerned about their mental health.
• It will also look for ways to enhance the sharing of information and best practices regarding suicide prevention and mental health support between departments.
• Another goal is to explore ways to promote awareness of mental health crisis signs, potentially including the distribution of validated screening tools and common symptom indicators.

Coordination with Executive Departments

• The Secretary will coordinate with various relevant Executive departments, such as:
• The Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Department of Defense
• The Department of Education

Consultation with Experts

• The Secretary may consult with various experts, including:
• Someone with expertise in suicide prevention or public mental health
• An academic institution specializing in mental or behavioral health research
• A mental health professional

Reporting Requirements

• After the assessment, the Secretary must submit a report to congressional committees outlining the findings and any recommendations.
• This report is due within 180 days following the completion of the assessment.
• Relevant congressional committees include those focused on energy and commerce, health, education, labor, and pensions, as well as any committees that oversee the departments consulted.

Implementation of Recommendations

• Each Executive department is encouraged to implement the recommendations from the Secretary's report to the extent possible.

Definitions

• Executive department: Refers to any department listed in the U.S. Code.
• Mental health crisis: Defined as a situation where an individual faces severe psychological distress that risks self-harm or severely affects their daily functioning, requiring intervention or support.

Relevant Companies

None found