Child Suicide Prevention Act

This legislation, titled the Child Suicide Prevention Act, aims to reduce suicide rates among individuals under 26 years of age by authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants. One grant program supports eligible entities, such as states, health departments, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations, in establishing or expanding programs to implement evidence-aligned practices in healthcare settings. Funds from these grants can be used to educate and train healthcare providers on identifying high-risk individuals, communicating about lethal means safety and injury prevention (including safe firearm storage), understanding risk factors, and providing post-suicide attempt support. Grantees may also use up to 15 percent of funds to make secure gun storage or safety devices available at reduced or no cost to residences with covered individuals, accompanied by counseling on their use. A second grant program targets eligible health education schools to develop and integrate suicide prevention and lethal means safety curricula into their programs. This content must address safe storage of firearms and ammunition, communication best practices, and evidence-aligned strategies for prevention and intervention. Additionally, the bill mandates the development and maintenance of a public informational website on best practices for suicide prevention and the role of firearms in suicide attempts, with input from various stakeholders. Both grant programs require annual reporting from grantees and a summary report to Congress from the Secretary by fiscal year 2030, with authorized appropriations of $20 million and $10 million, respectively, for fiscal years 2027 through 2030.