Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2025

The "Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2025" aims to improve the behavioral health and well-being of education professionals and other school staff. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to identify and disseminate evidence-based best practices for preventing suicide, improving mental health, and building resiliency among this workforce within two years. Additionally, the bill establishes a national education and awareness initiative to encourage school staff to seek support for mental health and substance use concerns, identify risk factors, and address associated stigma, with $10,000,000 authorized for this initiative for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. The legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to create new grant programs promoting mental health among the education workforce. These programs will award grants or contracts to eligible entities, such as State and local educational agencies, to establish or enhance initiatives that improve mental health and resiliency for school staff. Funds can support awareness campaigns, prevention programs, peer support, and direct mental health care or referrals, with priority given to areas with high percentages of Title I schools. Furthermore, the bill authorizes grants for training programs to integrate evidence-based strategies for addressing mental and substance use disorders into educator preparation and professional development. An appropriation of $35,000,000 is authorized for these grant programs for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. Finally, the Secretary is directed to conduct a comprehensive review of education workforce mental health and resiliency, including barriers to care and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and report findings and recommendations to Congress within two years, while the Comptroller General will also report on federal grant program effectiveness.