This bill directs the Secretary of Education to issue a rule within 210 days of enactment, requiring educational agencies or institutions serving students in grades 6 through 12 to implement specific protocols. As a condition of receiving funds under applicable programs, these institutions must establish comprehensive plans for suicide prevention, suicide postvention, and trauma-informed care. The required suicide prevention protocols include biennial, evidence-based training for staff to identify signs of distress and risk factors, guidelines for reporting concerns to parents and counselors, and establishing referral systems for mental health resources. Institutions must also conduct awareness campaigns to reduce mental health stigma. For suicide postvention , schools must develop plans to support affected students, staff, and the community after a suicide, including communication guidelines, memorialization, and grief counseling resources. Finally, schools must adopt a trauma-informed approach , providing biennial trauma-sensitive training for staff to understand and respond to the impact of trauma on students. The Secretary of Education is further tasked with providing technical assistance, resources, and guidelines to help educational agencies comply with these new requirements. The Secretary must also establish a system for compliance monitoring, including periodic assessments and audits, and encourage feedback from institutions to facilitate rule improvements.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Education
Prevent Youth Suicide Act
USA119th CongressHR-5482| House
| Updated: 9/18/2025
This bill directs the Secretary of Education to issue a rule within 210 days of enactment, requiring educational agencies or institutions serving students in grades 6 through 12 to implement specific protocols. As a condition of receiving funds under applicable programs, these institutions must establish comprehensive plans for suicide prevention, suicide postvention, and trauma-informed care. The required suicide prevention protocols include biennial, evidence-based training for staff to identify signs of distress and risk factors, guidelines for reporting concerns to parents and counselors, and establishing referral systems for mental health resources. Institutions must also conduct awareness campaigns to reduce mental health stigma. For suicide postvention , schools must develop plans to support affected students, staff, and the community after a suicide, including communication guidelines, memorialization, and grief counseling resources. Finally, schools must adopt a trauma-informed approach , providing biennial trauma-sensitive training for staff to understand and respond to the impact of trauma on students. The Secretary of Education is further tasked with providing technical assistance, resources, and guidelines to help educational agencies comply with these new requirements. The Secretary must also establish a system for compliance monitoring, including periodic assessments and audits, and encourage feedback from institutions to facilitate rule improvements.