Bill · S. 906· Senate(119-S-906)
Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act
- Introduced
- 3/6/2025
- Last activity
- 3/6/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- John Hickenlooper
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act directs the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to establish a pilot program. This program provides competitive awards to eligible entities to support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students in secondary schools. Eligible entities include States, political subdivisions, territories, or Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. The funds can be used to implement activities such as training students and adult supervisors to identify and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. The Assistant Secretary is also required to evaluate the program's effectiveness and report the results to specific Senate and House committees. This program is set to terminate on September 30, 2029.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would students be better off under this?+7
The bill directly funds mental health peer support and resiliency training for students in secondary schools.
Would children be better off under this?+6
The bill provides resources for mental health training and support specifically for students in secondary schools.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+6
The program targets secondary school students, who are typically in the young adult age demographic.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Student Mental Health: The program supports evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students enrolled in secondary schools (Section 2(a)). This could help students manage mental health and substance use challenges.
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Training for Identification and Recovery: Funds can be used to provide training to students, adult supervisors, and other individuals to improve early identification, response, and recovery supports, while promoting resiliency (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Professional Oversight: The bill requires that mental health peer support activities are overseen by a school-based mental health professional (Section 2(c)(2)).
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Data Protection: Any student education records collected or maintained under this section are subject to the protections provided in section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (Section 2(c)(3)).
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Technical Assistance and Best Practices: The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, provides technical assistance and the dissemination of best practices to those receiving awards (Section 2(e)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Program Expiration: The program is subject to a sunset provision and will terminate on September 30, 2029 (Section 2(g)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+7Good For Children+6Good For Young Adults+6Good For Native Americans+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+6
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+4
- 4/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire