EMT Act

The Emergency Responders Mental Health Training Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a pilot program known as the Public Safety Mental Health Fellowship Program. This program will award fellowships, which may include stipends, for postbaccalaureate training in various mental health and substance use disorder treatment fields, such as psychiatry, nursing, social work, and psychology.

The primary goals of these fellowships are to increase the knowledge of mental health practitioners regarding the unique needs of emergency response providers, improve the quality of prevention and treatment services delivered to them, and increase the number of culturally competent mental health professionals serving this critical population. A culturally competent professional is defined as an individual familiar with the duties and stressors of emergency responders, trained in trauma-informed care, and knowledgeable about specific confidentiality aspects.

The bill authorizes an appropriation of $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2033 to fund the program. The Secretary is mandated to establish the program within one year of enactment and submit initial and final reports to Congress within two and five years, respectively, to assess the program's efficiency, impact on patient outcomes, and provide recommendations for its future.