Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act
The Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require postsecondary institutions that issue student identification cards to include suicide prevention resources. Specifically, for new or updated IDs issued after enactment, cards must display phone contact information for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a campus mental health center or program chosen by the institution. If an institution does not issue IDs, it must publish the same resources on its website. If any listed crisis resource ceases to exist, the Secretary of Education may designate a similar entity to fill the gap. The requirement takes effect one year after enactment. The bill aims to improve awareness and access to crisis resources for students by placing direct, prominent contact information on a widely used student identifier, with a fallback for institutions that don’t issue IDs and a mechanism to update resources if a provider changes.
Key Points
- 1Requires new or updated student identification cards (for institutions that create IDs after enactment) to include phone contact info for: (i) 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, (ii) Crisis Text Line, and (iii) a campus mental health center or program designated by the institution.
- 2If an institution does not issue student IDs after enactment, it must publish the suicide prevention contact information on its official website.
- 3If one of the crisis resources (988 Lifeline or Crisis Text Line) ceases to exist, the Secretary may designate a comparable alternative to appear on the ID or website.
- 4The amendment applies to institutions under the Higher Education Act and becomes effective one year after enactment.
- 5It does not retroactively change existing IDs beyond new or updated ones; it creates a long-term placement of resources on ID cards moving forward.