Hope Heals Act of 2026

This bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct an assessment within 180 days of enactment, evaluating how Executive departments address mental health crisis prevention and awareness . The assessment will explore the feasibility of improving coordination among departments that provide direct public services, particularly in identifying individuals experiencing or expressing concerns about a mental health crisis. It will also examine opportunities for departments to enhance information sharing, best practices, and referral mechanisms related to suicide prevention and mental health support, and consider implementing programs to distribute validated screening tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire-3 (PHQ-3). In conducting this assessment, the Secretary must coordinate with relevant Executive departments, including the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs , Defense , and Education , and may consult with experts in suicide prevention, public mental health, or behavioral health systems. Following the assessment, a report detailing the findings and recommendations must be submitted to appropriate congressional committees. Each Executive department is then directed to implement, to the extent practicable, any recommendations contained within this report to improve mental health crisis response.