Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act

In this Act:

The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.

The term eligible entity means—

(A) a local educational agency;

(B) an Indian Tribe or a Tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) or a Tribal educational agency; and

(C) the Bureau of Indian Education.

The terms evidence-based, local educational agency, and secondary school have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

The term peer-to-peer mental health support program means an evidence-based intervention that trains students to become peer support specialists and provide mental health support to other students.

The term school-based mental health services provider has the meaning given the term in section 4102 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7112).

Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, as part of the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or a similar program, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out evidence-based peer-to-peer mental health support programs for students enrolled in secondary schools.

Grants awarded under this section shall be of sufficient size and scope to allow recipients to carry out the activities described in this section.

A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require.

An eligible entity shall use grant amounts provided under this section only to—

(A) implement new or operate existing evidence-based peer-to-peer mental health support programs that meet the requirements of paragraph (2) in 1 or more secondary schools served by the eligible entity; or

(B) provide training to students, adult supervisors, and school-based mental health services providers in implementing the evidence-based peer-to-peer mental health support programs that meet the requirements of paragraph (2).

Each peer-to-peer mental health support program funded by a grant under this section shall include, at a minimum, the following components:

Peer support specialists and participating school staff overseeing the peer-to-peer mental health support program shall receive training in—

(i) empathic listening;

(ii) enhancing protective mental health factors;

(iii) recognizing and appropriately responding to risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation and depression;

(iv) connecting students with professional mental health services and recovery supports, as necessary;

(v) recognizing and appropriately responding to risk factors and warning signs associated with mental health and substance use challenges, including co-occurring challenges; and

(vi) other areas included in the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Each peer-to-peer mental health support program shall—

(i) be overseen by a trained and certified youth peer support supervisor; and

(ii) receive guidance from a school-based mental health services provider.

Any education record of a student collected or maintained under this subsection shall have the protections required for education records under section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g).

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may combine such grant funds with other Federal funds to support the activities carried out under this section.

In awarding grants under this section, the Assistant Secretary shall give priority to applications submitted by eligible entities that—

(A) propose to use grant amounts to establish new peer-to-peer mental health support programs in a majority of secondary schools served by such eligible entity;

(B) propose to use grant amounts to establish a new peer-to-peer mental health support program in 1 or more secondary schools without such programs;

(C) propose to use grant amounts for peer-to-peer mental health support programs that have a suicide prevention component; or

(D) are located in areas that have high rates of suicide or have experienced recent traumatic events.

A grant awarded to an eligible entity under this section may not exceed $250,000.

The Assistant Secretary shall carry out an evaluation to measure the efficacy of the program under this section. The evaluation shall measure—

(A) student participation in the peer-to-peer mental health support program and include a demographic analysis;

(B) the efficacy of the training provided to peer support specialists and school staff in increasing their knowledge of protective factors, risk factors, and warning signs of mental health challenges; and

(C) the percentage of students participating in the peer-to-peer mental health support program who report improved mental health outcomes or are connected to professional mental health services.

The Assistant Secretary shall prepare and submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives containing the results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1).

The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall provide technical assistance to eligible entities applying for and receiving grants under this section, which shall include the development and dissemination of best practices for evidence-based peer-to-peer mental health support programs.

Section 4001 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101) (not including the exception under subsection (a)(2)(B)(i) of such section) shall apply to an entity receiving a grant under this section in the same manner as such section applies to an entity receiving funding under title IV of such Act.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

From the total amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall reserve—

(A) not more than 2 percent for awards to eligible entities described in subsection (a)(2)(C);

(B) not less than 2 percent for technical assistance and administration; and

(C) not more than 2 percent for evaluation, in accordance with subsection (g).