WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick, R-PA, Tim Kaine, D-VA, Pete Ricketts, R-NE, and Maggie Hassan, D-NH, introduced legislation this week that would expand federal support for student-led mental health programs and encourage colleges to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The Campus Lifeline Act would broaden the use of Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act campus grants to support student organizations focused on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, substance use disorder education and campus outreach.
The proposal would also expand peer education programs designed to help students recognize and respond appropriately to warning signs involving mental health and substance use disorders.
Under the legislation, colleges applying for grants would be required to seek student input and ensure that behavioral health resources and outreach are accessible to students enrolled in online, hybrid and distance-learning programs.
The bill would further expand technical assistance to both successful grant recipients and institutions whose applications are unsuccessful but are implementing evidence-based campus mental health programs.
States and colleges would also be encouraged to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through student ID cards and campus awareness campaigns.
“Students are often the first to recognize when someone is struggling,” McCormick said. “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.”
The proposal builds on the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which provides federal grants to colleges and universities for mental health and substance use disorder services, suicide prevention programs and student outreach.
Supporters of the bill point to peer-to-peer engagement as a way to identify students who may be struggling and connect them with professional resources.
Hassan emphasized the bill’s focus on visibility of the 988 service, including on student identification cards.
“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,” Hassan said.
Companion legislation, H.R. 8657, has been introduced in the House by Reps. Erin Houchin, R-IN, Lori Trahan, D-MA, David Valadao, R-CA, and Mark Pocan, D-WI.
The measure has backing from more than 35 mental health, education and advocacy organizations, including Active Minds, the American Psychiatric Association, Mental Health America, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Social Workers and Vibrant Emotional Health.
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