Mental Health First Aid Higher Education Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to carry out a demonstration program awarding grants to 10 institutions of higher education (IHEs) to implement a mental health first aid training program.
Directs that training toward: (1) on-campus counseling center personnel; (2) dormitory resident advisers; (3) members of threat assessment and disciplinary committees; (4) faculty members; (5) coaches and other athletic department employees; (6) members of threat assessment teams; and (7) other administrators and personnel of the IHE, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
Requires that the program be designed to train those individuals to: (1) safely ameliorate crisis situations, (2) recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and (3) refer students to mental health services in the early stages of developing mental disorders so they can avoid more costly behavioral health care down the road and stay enrolled in school.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5996 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5996
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through
the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, to
carry out a 5-year demonstration program to fund mental health first
aid training programs at 10 institutions of higher education to improve
student mental health.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 21, 2012
Mr. Altmire introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through
the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, to
carry out a 5-year demonstration program to fund mental health first
aid training programs at 10 institutions of higher education to improve
student mental health.
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 ``Mental Health First Aid Higher
Education Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING AT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) The term ``institution of higher education'' means an
institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health
and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in
coordination with the Secretary of Education.
(b) Demonstration Program Authorized.--The Secretary may carry out
a demonstration program consisting of awarding grants to 10
institutions of higher education for implementation of a mental health
first aid training program described in subsection (d) to improve
student mental health.
(c) Demonstration Program Duration.--The demonstration program
under this section is authorized to be carried out for a total period
of not more than 5 years.
(d) Mental Health First Aid Training Program Described.--A mental
health first aid training program described in this subsection--
(1) shall be designed to train individuals in the
categories listed in subsection (e) to accomplish the
objectives described in subsection (f);
(2) shall ensure that training is conducted by trainers
that are properly licensed and credentialed by nonprofit
entities as designated by the Secretary; and
(3) shall include--
(A) at a minimum--
(i) a core course of up to 12 hours in
length for individuals in the categories listed
in subsection (e) on the skills, resources, and
knowledge to assist individuals in crisis to
connect with appropriate local mental health
care services;
(ii) training on available off-campus
mental health resources in the State and local
community; and
(iii) training on action plans and
protocols for referral to such resources; and
(B) where feasible, continuing education and
updated training for individuals in the categories
listed in subsection (e).
(e) Categories of Individuals To Be Trained.--The categories of
individuals listed in this subsection are, with respect to individuals
at an institution of higher education, the following:
(1) On-campus counseling center personnel.
(2) Dormitory resident advisers.
(3) Members of threat assessment and disciplinary
committees.
(4) Faculty members.
(5) Coaches and other athletic department employees.
(6) Members of threat assessment teams.
(7) Other administrators and personnel of the institution
of higher education, as determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(f) Objectives of Training.--A mental health first aid training
program funded under this section shall be designed to train
individuals in the categories listed in subsection (e) to accomplish
each of the following objectives:
(1) Safe de-escalation of crisis situations.
(2) Recognition by individuals in the categories listed in
subsection (e) of the signs and symptoms of mental illness,
including mental illnesses typically encountered on campus such
as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major clinical depression,
and anxiety disorders.
(3) Timely referral to mental health services in the early
stages of developing mental disorders in order to--
(A) avoid more costly subsequent behavioral health
care; and
(B) assist the student to maintain enrollment.
(g) Geographic Diversity.--In awarding grants under subsection (b),
the Secretary shall ensure that the grant recipients are located in
geographically disparate cities and States across the United States.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
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