Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5407) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to promote comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5407

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act''. SEC. 2. ENCOURAGING CAMPUS COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PLANS.

Part L of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161l et seq.) is amended--

(1) by redesignating section 826 as section 827; and

(2) by inserting after section 825 the following new section: ``SEC. 826. ENCOURAGING CAMPUS COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PLANS.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make efforts to encourage institutions of higher education to develop and implement evidence-based comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans. Such efforts--

``(1) shall be conducted in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use);

``(2) shall align with--

``(A) the efforts and approaches recommended by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center;

``(B) the programs authorized under section 9032 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36b note; Public Law 114-255), the amendments made by section 9031 of such Act to section 520E-2 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-36b), and the amendment made by section 9033 of such Act to part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd et seq.); and

``(C) the programs authorized under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (42 U.S.C. 201 note; Public Law 108-355);

``(3) shall take into consideration existing Federal and State efforts to address mental health and suicide prevention at institutions of higher education; and

``(4) may be carried out in collaboration with nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations that partner with institutions of higher education, and other experts and stakeholders in the field of campus mental health and suicide prevention.

``(b) Reports.--The Secretary shall report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the efforts of the Secretary carried out under this section--

``(1) not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act; and

``(2) three years after the date of enactment of such Act.

``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating new statutory requirements for institutions of higher education or granting the Secretary new regulatory authority.''.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, over the last 2 years, our Nation's college students have grappled with a mental health crisis that was significantly worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. A national survey last year found that 65 percent of students reported having poor or only fair mental health. And according to the CDC, suicide attempts amongst females aged 15 to 23 increased by 87 percent from 2007 through 2020.

The surging mental health needs of students on college campuses have further strained campus-based mental health care providers. Since the start of the pandemic, campus counseling centers have been forced to respond to an increased demand for services without the funding, staffing, and resources that they need.

Regrettably, insufficient access to mental health care during the pandemic has exacerbated preexisting mental health inequities. A 2015 survey indicated that students of color are significantly less likely to be diagnosed or treated for mental health conditions than White students. The gaps between the increased mental health needs of students and the limited capacity of institutions to address them demand urgent action.

In response to this crisis, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), along with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), introduced a bill, Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act.

This bill will help institutions of higher education develop comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention plans to better support mental health needs of college students.

Specifically, the legislation directs the Department of Education to build on existing mental health programs to create evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention and mental health care. And it would encourage the Department to collaborate with State agencies, nonprofit organizations, and stakeholders to help ensure that these programs fully meet the needs of students.

In other words, the Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act is a critical opportunity for each of us to stand up for the healthcare needs of our Nation's students and ensure that we care for their well-being.

I thank Ms. Wild and Mr. Keller for their work on this critical priority, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), the sponsor of this legislation.

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the evidence is clear that our Nation's students are continuing to grapple with an ongoing mental health crisis. Even as we continue to recover from COVID-19, we are still seeing far too many students suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress without the support and services they need to get back on their feet.

Madam Speaker, students in this country should not have to grapple with serious mental health challenges on their own. However, we cannot expect campus mental health care providers to support students if we do not support them with the resources that they need.

The Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act is legislation that we need to help ensure that our institutions of higher education are equipped to support students' mental health, both during the pandemic and into the future.

I, again, thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller) for their leadership and cooperation on this bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5407--to amend the ``Higher Education Act of 1965'' to promote comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans within the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The mental health crisis plaguing our Nation is astounding. Particularly in our Nation's institutions of higher education, we see higher reported rates of anxiety and depression, which have unfortunately led some students to suicide.

According to studies done in the year 2020, suicide was the 12th leading cause of death within the Unites States. Within this year, 45,979 Americans died by suicide, and an estimated 1.2 million Americans attempted suicide.

Within the reported suicide rates of 2020, people ranging from ages 15-34 made up 32.59 percent of the total.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the mental health crisis showing a 25 percent increase in the number of depression and anxiety cases recorded globally.

In my home state of Texas 34.2 percent of adults reported symptoms of anxiety and depression between September 29, 2021, and October 11, 2021.

The transition period into institutions of higher education can be difficult for numerous reasons. Some of the leading triggers for anxiety and depression are the constant pressure for success, homesickness, adjustment to workload, or even the social aspects of the collegiate environment.

No matter the cause, it is our job as elected officials of the United States to ensure that we are putting our time and resources into ensuring that we are providing outlets for those struggling with mental health issues to seek refuge.

I want to be very clear when I say that providing these resources alone will not ensure that zero lives are taken at the hands of mental health struggles.

However, taking the steps to ensure that there are proper resources and parameters in place on the campuses of our college campuses will aid in helping our young adults receive the assistance they need to lead healthy lives.

We cannot sit idly as our Nation stares down the barrel of an all- time low for mental health.

By invoking comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention plans across higher education institutions, we are pouring into our next generations.

H.R. 5407 allows for collegiate institutions to draw on the expertise and resources provided by the Suicide Prevention Centers nine strategy model, while also working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a comprehensive approach to mental health concerns and suicide prevention.

This mental health assistance model will allow for all institutions throughout the Nation to collectively pool together and ensure each campus is administering the highest level of care for students with mental health struggles.

I urge for each of my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 5407 to help us get our college students across the stage.

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