Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act

John W. Mannion

Democrat · NY · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1)Original· 2026-05-21

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

Colleges and universities would be required to develop detailed mental health and suicide prevention plans that include counseling services, crisis response procedures, and training for staff and students to recognize warning signs. The legislation aims to help schools better support student mental health by establishing standards for how they identify and assist students in crisis. This would affect college administrators, mental health professionals, and the millions of students attending higher education institutions across the country.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8978 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8978 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to promote comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2026 Mr. Mannion (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to promote comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans, and for other purposes. 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 ``Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act''. SEC. 2. ENCOURAGING CAMPUS COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PLANS. Part L of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161l et seq.) is amended-- (1) by redesignating section 826 as section 827; and (2) by inserting after section 825 the following new section: ``SEC. 826. ENCOURAGING CAMPUS COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PLANS. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make efforts to encourage institutions of higher education to develop and implement evidence- based comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans. Such efforts-- ``(1) shall be conducted in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use); ``(2) shall align with-- ``(A) the efforts and approaches recommended by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center; and ``(B) the programs authorized under-- ``(i) section 9032 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36b note; Public Law 114-255); ``(ii) section 520C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-34); ``(iii) section 520E of such Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36); ``(iv) section 520E-1 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36a); ``(v) section 520E-2 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36b); and ``(vi) section 549 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee-4); ``(3) shall take into consideration existing Federal and State efforts to address mental health and suicide prevention at institutions of higher education; and ``(4) may be carried out in collaboration with nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations that partner with institutions of higher education, and other experts and stakeholders in the field of campus mental health and suicide prevention. ``(b) Reports.--The Secretary shall report to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the efforts of the Secretary carried out under this section-- ``(1) not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act; and ``(2) three years after the date of enactment of such Act. ``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating new statutory requirements for institutions of higher education or granting the Secretary new regulatory authority.''. <all>

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