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Rep. Wild Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Student Mental Health

September 28, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) introduced bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. Fred Keller (PA-12) to combat the student mental health crisis. The Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act would amend the Higher Education Act to promote positive mental health among college students and encourage more comprehensive planning on college campuses to prevent suicide and other mental health crises. Rep. Wild wrote an op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer over the weekend to discuss the importance of this legislation.

"It's time for Congress to tackle the growing student mental health crisis on campuses and give America's students the support and resources they deserve," said Rep. Wild. "I am proud to be introducing the bipartisan Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act alongside my colleague Congressman Fred Keller to do just that: Ensure that no student suffers alone."

"The mental health of our college students is a topic that requires our full attention and I thank Congresswoman Wild for her insight and leadership as we work to tackle this important issue," said Rep. Keller. "Our legislation provides for increased coordination between federal agencies and higher education institutions to develop and implement mental health and suicide prevention plans so that every student has access to the resources they need to succeed in college."

The Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act would require the Department of Education to work alongside the Department of Health and Human Services in order to encourage colleges and universities to address the mental health crisis among students by creating proactive plans for preventing suicide and promoting positive mental health. These comprehensive plans would comply with strategies recommended by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Suicide Prevention Resource Center, specifically its nine-part Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention.

"The Jed Foundation thanks Representative Wild for her continued leadership to promote mental health and prevent suicide among our nation's teens and young adults," said John MacPhee, Executive Director and CEO of The Jed Foundation. "Legislation, such as this, will help to improve the mental health outcomes for college students by ensuring comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans are in place. As we emerge from a pandemic that has had an exacerbating impact on mental health, particularly of this population, the time to act is now."

"As the professional membership association for individuals committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education, our members are often on the frontlines of college student mental health," said Stephan Smith, Executive Director, Association on Higher Education and Disability. "Our members see every day the mental health challenges facing young adults. For this reason, AHEAD applauds Rep. Wild and Rep. Keller for introducing the Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act to raise awareness of the resources available to colleges so that more colleges are able to take a comprehensive approach to mental health and suicide prevention."

"The National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA) is committed to providing resources that help our members address the ongoing mental health needs of college students," Makenzie Schiemann M.S, President of NABITA. "We have seen firsthand the increased emotional and mental health issues impacting college students and understand the vital role college administrators can have in ensuring students get the help they need. NABITA is pleased to see Rep. Wild and Rep. Keller introduce the Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act as we believe it will better equip college administrators to promote positive mental health among students and encourage comprehensive planning to prevent suicide on college campuses. We must provide national guidance which encourages administrators in higher education to develop and implement comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention plans and NABITA urges Congress to pass this bill quickly."

This bill is endorsed by: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; The Jed Foundation; American Association of Suicidology; March for Our Lives; The Trevor Project; American Psychological Association; Active Minds; National Federation of Families; The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health; Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice; National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors; Anxiety & Depression Association of America; NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation; Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD); The Jason Foundation; Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance; NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals; National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA); Education Development Center; NASPA; International OCD Foundation; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National League for Nursing; RI International, Inc.; The Kennedy Forum; American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work; Crisis Residential Association; Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness; Inseparable; Association of College & University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I).

In addition to Rep. Keller, this bill is cosponsored by Reps Brian K. Fitzpatrick, Jamie Raskin, Haley M. Stevens, David J. Trone, Mary Gay Scanlon, Seth Moulton, Raul M. Grijalva, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Madeleine Dean, Josh Harder, and Mark DeSaulnier.

The full text of the bill is available here.