Bill Summary
The "Prevent Youth Suicide Act" is legislation aimed at enhancing mental health support and suicide prevention measures within educational institutions serving students in grades 6 through 12. Under this Act, the Secretary of Education is required to establish rules mandating that schools implement specific protocols for suicide prevention, postvention, and trauma-informed care as a condition for receiving federal funding.
Key components of the Act include:
1. **Suicide Prevention Protocols**: Schools must develop evidence-based programs that provide training for staff to identify signs of distress in students, establish referral systems for mental health resources, and conduct awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around seeking help.
2. **Suicide Postvention Support**: Schools are required to create plans to support the community after a suicide occurs, which includes guidelines for communication and collaboration with mental health professionals for grief counseling.
3. **Trauma-Informed Care**: Educational institutions must adopt trauma-informed practices that consider the effects of trauma on students, including training for staff to respond appropriately to students who have experienced trauma.
Additionally, the Secretary of Education will provide resources and technical assistance for compliance, monitor adherence to the rules, and encourage feedback for continuous improvement. This legislation seeks to create safer and more supportive school environments, ultimately aiming to reduce the incidence of youth suicide and its impact on communities.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Prevent Youth Suicide Act" could affect people:
1. **Enhanced Support for At-Risk Students**: The legislation requires educational agencies to implement evidence-based suicide prevention programs, which would provide students with access to resources and support. This could lead to earlier identification of students who are experiencing mental health issues, allowing them to receive timely help. For instance, a student showing signs of distress could be referred to a mental health professional, potentially preventing a crisis.
2. **Increased Awareness and Reduced Stigma**: The bill mandates awareness campaigns and educational initiatives aimed at reducing the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health concerns. This could encourage more students and families to seek support without fear of judgment, fostering a school culture where mental health is openly discussed and prioritized.
3. **Crisis Management and Community Support**: The legislation includes requirements for suicide postvention plans, which would provide structured support for students and staff following a suicide. This could involve grief counseling and collaboration with mental health professionals, helping the school community process the event and prevent further tragedies. It ensures that affected individuals receive the necessary care and support, ultimately promoting healing and resilience within the community.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5482 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5482
To require the Secretary of Education to issue a rule requiring schools
to implement protocols for suicide prevention, postvention, and trauma-
informed care.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 18, 2025
Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Education to issue a rule requiring schools
to implement protocols for suicide prevention, postvention, and trauma-
informed care.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prevent Youth Suicide Act''.
SEC. 2. RULES ON PROTOCOLS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AT ANY EDUCATIONAL
AGENCY OR INSTITUTION SERVING STUDENTS IN GRADES 6
THROUGH GRADE 12.
(a) Rule.--Not later than 210 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Education shall issue a rule requiring, as a
condition of receipt of funds under an applicable program, that an
educational agency or institution carry out each of the following:
(1) School-based suicide prevention protocols.--The
development and implementation of evidence-based suicide
prevention programs tailored to the needs of students, which
shall include--
(A) biennial, evidence-based training for staff and
faculty to--
(i) identify signs of distress and risk
factors for suicide in students; and
(ii) in a case in which a student has been
identified as exhibiting such signs or risk
factors, guidelines for reporting such
identification to parents and guidance
counselors, and responding to concerns from
such parents and counselors;
(B) establishing a referral system to connect
students in need to appropriate mental health resources
at school and outside of school; and
(C) conducting awareness campaigns and educational
initiatives to reduce stigma associated with seeking
help for mental health concerns.
(2) Suicide postvention support.--The development and
implementation of a suicide postvention plan to address the
aftermath of a suicide, focusing on providing support to
affected students, staff, and the broader community, which
shall include--
(A) guidelines for communication, memorialization,
and resources for grief counseling; and
(B) collaboration with mental health professionals
and community organizations to ensure comprehensive
postvention support.
(3) Trauma-informed care.--The adoption of a trauma-
informed approach in policies and practices to create a safe
and supportive environment for all students, which shall
include the provision of biennial trauma-sensitive training for
school staff to help such staff understand the potential impact
of trauma on students and to promote appropriate responses.
(b) Additional Requirements for the Secretary of Education.--
(1) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide each
educational agency or institution subject to the rule issued
under subsection (a) with the resources, guidelines, and
technical assistance to comply with the requirements of such
rule.
(2) Compliance monitoring.--The Secretary shall establish
to ensure compliance with the rule issued under subsection (a),
which shall include periodic assessments, evaluations, and
audits of each such educational agency or institution.
(3) Feedback and improvement.--The Secretary shall--
(A) encourage educational agencies and institutions
to provide feedback to the Secretary on the
effectiveness of the requirements issued under the
rule; and
(B) review such feedback and make necessary
revisions to such rule.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Applicable program.--The term ``applicable program''
has the meaning given the term in section 400 of the General
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221).
(2) Educational agency or institution.--The term
``educational agency or institution'' means an educational
agency or institution (as defined in section 444(a)(3) of the
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)) that serves
students in any grade from grade 6 through grade 12, as
determined under State law.
(3) Parent.--The term ``parent'' has the meaning given the
term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(5) Suicide postvention.--The term ``suicide postvention''
means activities and support provided after a suicide has
occurred, designed to help individuals cope with the loss,
minimize potential negative impacts, and prevent contagion.
(6) Suicide prevention.--The term ``suicide prevention''
means comprehensive strategies and actions aimed at identifying
individuals at risk of suicide, providing appropriate
interventions, and fostering a supportive environment to reduce
the likelihood of suicidal behavior.
(7) Trauma-informed care.--The term ``trauma-informed
care'' means an approach based on an understanding of the
vulnerabilities and triggers of individuals who have
experienced trauma, recognize the role trauma has played in the
lives of those individuals, recognize the presence of trauma
symptoms and their onset, are supportive of trauma recovery,
and avoid further traumatization.
<all>