S. 906: Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act

The Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act proposes to establish a pilot program aimed at enhancing mental health support among students in secondary schools. This program would be administered by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, to fund initiatives focused on peer support for mental health issues.

Key Provisions

General Overview

The Bill allows for competitive awards to be given to eligible entities that want to implement evidence-based mental health peer support programs in secondary schools. This is intended to provide students access to mental health resources and support from their peers.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for funding under this program, entities must:

• Be a State, political subdivision of a State, territory, or an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization.
• Submit an application to the Assistant Secretary, detailing how they plan to measure and assess the program's effectiveness in improving student mental health outcomes.

Use of Funds

Eligible entities can use awarded funds to:

• Implement mental health peer support activities in one or more secondary schools within their jurisdiction.
• Train students, adult supervisors, and other relevant individuals to recognize and respond to mental health challenges and promote recovery and resiliency.

Moreover, all peer support activities must be overseen by a qualified school-based mental health professional, and any student records maintained will be protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Program Evaluation and Reporting

The Assistant Secretary is tasked with evaluating the pilot program's effectiveness. This evaluation will:

• Measure the participation rates in the peer support activities.
• Detail the trainings provided and other activities conducted under the program.
• Assess the impact of these activities on students' mental health outcomes.
• Compare the program’s effectiveness in connecting students to professional mental health services with other strategies.

After the evaluation, a report will be submitted to relevant congressional committees outlining the findings.

Technical Assistance

The Assistant Secretary will offer technical support to eligible entities to help them apply for and successfully implement the program. This support includes sharing best practices for effective mental health peer support programs.

Duration of the Program

The program is set to terminate on September 30, 2029, unless extended or modified through future legislation.

Relevant Companies

None found