Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act

Bill Number: H.R. 8978
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Education
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Last Updated: 2026-06-24T18:33:40Z

AI-Generated Summary

This legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to encourage institutions of higher education to develop and implement evidence-based comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans.

The Secretary of Education must promote these plans in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use).
Efforts must align with recommendations from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and specific programs under the 21st Century Cures Act and the Public Health Service Act.
The Secretary must consider existing federal and state efforts and may collaborate with nonprofit organizations, community groups, and experts.
The Secretary must submit reports to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions one year and three years after enactment.
A construction clause clarifies that the section creates no new requirements for institutions or new regulatory authority for the Secretary.

Redesignates the existing section 826 as section 827 in Part L of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Adds a new section 826 focused on encouraging campus mental health and suicide prevention plans.

On government agencies: Requires coordination between the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.
On institutions of higher education and citizens: Promotes voluntary adoption of mental health plans without imposing mandates.
On international relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.

Institutions of higher education and their students.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Nonprofit organizations and community partners focused on mental health and suicide prevention.

The legislation explicitly avoids creating mandatory obligations or expanding regulatory powers, maintaining a voluntary approach.
It reinforces existing statutory frameworks without altering constitutional authorities or introducing new enforcement mechanisms.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (4 pages)