Legislation Expands Student-Led Mental Health Programs and Increases Awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced the bipartisan Campus Lifeline Act, legislation to strengthen student mental health and suicide prevention efforts by expanding student-led outreach on college campuses and increasing awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young Americans, with nearly one in five high school students reporting suicidal thoughts. Congress has supported youth suicide prevention through the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (GLSMA), which provides grants to colleges and universities to improve mental health and substance use disorder services, suicide prevention programming, and student outreach. Research shows peer-to-peer engagement can play an important role in identifying students in crisis and connecting them with appropriate support.
The launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has also expanded access to immediate behavioral health support, but awareness of the resource among college students remains inconsistent. The Campus Lifeline Act builds on existing federal efforts by strengthening peer-led outreach and helping colleges connect students with lifesaving mental health resources before a crisis escalates.
“No family should have to experience the heartbreak of losing a child, classmate, relative, or friend to suicide,” said Senator McCormick. “Students are often the first to recognize when someone is struggling. The Campus Lifeline Act strengthens peer-led mental health efforts, expands awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and gives colleges additional tools to connect students with support before a crisis becomes a tragedy.”
“We can and must do more about the alarming spike in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation that we’ve seen among young people across the country over the last 15 years,” said Senator Kaine. “That includes encouraging schools to take commonsense steps to ensure that students know that help is out there, including through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that is free and available 24/7. This bipartisan legislation would help do that, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join us in pushing to get it signed into law as quickly as possible.”
“The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides critical support for those struggling with their mental health. As Governor, I was proud to lead the effort to make this resource available to every Nebraskan. The Campus Lifeline Act would increase awareness of this resource and others available to students nationwide. Every student deserves to know that they are not alone, and help is there if they need it,” said Senator Ricketts.
“Young people in crisis need to know where to turn for help. This bipartisan bill would encourage colleges to put information about 988, the suicide and crisis hotline, on student IDs to increase awareness about this lifesaving resource. In addition, it would encourage colleges to develop plans for peer outreach about the 988 hotline, making it easier for people to get the support that they need,” said Senator Hassan.
Specifically, the Campus Lifeline Act would:
• Expand eligible Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act campus mental health grants to support student organizations promoting peer mental health awareness, suicide prevention, substance use disorder education, and campus awareness campaigns.
• Expand peer education programs to help students recognize and appropriately respond to warning signs of mental health and substance use disorders.
• Require grant applicants to seek student input and ensure outreach and behavioral health resources are accessible to students enrolled in online, hybrid, and distance-learning programs.
• Expand technical assistance to both grant recipients and unsuccessful applicants implementing evidence-based campus mental health programs.
• Encourage states and colleges to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through student ID cards and campus awareness campaigns.
This bill has bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House. Representatives Erin Houchin (R-IN), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Valado (R-CA), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) are sponsoring companion legislation, H.R. 8657, in the House of Representatives.
The Campus Lifeline Act has received support from over 35 organizations including: Active Minds, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Group Psychotherapy Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American School Counselor Association, Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare (AABH), Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, EDGE Partners, Inseparable, Institute for Educational Leadership, International OCD Foundation, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, Mental Health America, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Board for Certified Counselors, National Council on Problem Gambling, National Eating Disorders Association, National Federation of Families, National League for Nursing, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), REDC Consortium, Sandy Hook Promise, The Kennedy Forum, The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, The Trevor Project, Vibrant Emotional Health, Youth Villages.
“At Active Minds, we believe that every student deserves access to mental health support before they reach a crisis. We are grateful to the U.S. Senators for coming together across party lines to champion this effort, which recognizes that supporting young people’s mental health is not a partisan issue, it should be a national priority. By strengthening campus mental health resources and expanding access to evidence-based supports, this legislation will help ensure more youth and young adults can get the care they need, when they need it,” said Anika Rahman, Director of Policy, Active Minds.
“At SAVE, through our The Green Bandana Project program, we work with high school and college students across the country and see firsthand how important connection and accessible support are,” said Erich Mische, CEO of SAVE, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. “The Campus Lifeline Act will help remove barriers by including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on newly issued student ID cards and investing in youth-informed mental health strategies on college campuses. SAVE strongly endorses this legislation and looks forward to working with Senator McCormick and members of both parties to make it law.”
The full bill text may be read here.