Child Suicide Prevention Act

Full Title:
Child Suicide Prevention Act

Summary#

This bill, the Child Suicide Prevention Act, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to run grant programs and create materials to reduce suicides among people under 26. It authorizes grants to states, health departments, hospitals, professional groups, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and certain schools that train health workers. Grants will fund training and programs in health care settings on evidence-aligned practices such as screening and risk assessment, suicide prevention and intervention, communicating with patients and families about lethal means safety (including safe firearm storage), referral procedures, and support after a suicide attempt. Grantees may use up to 15% of grant funds to make secure gun storage or safety devices available at reduced or no cost and must provide counseling on using those devices. The Secretary must provide technical assistance, collect annual reports from grantees through fiscal year 2029, publish those reports online, and submit a summary and recommendations to Congress by the end of FY2029. The bill also requires grants to eligible medical, nursing, and other health education schools to develop and add suicide prevention and lethal-means safety content to curricula and continuing education. An informational website must be created within one year and updated using grantee reports. The bill defines "covered individuals" as people under 26 and lists covered risk factors (for example, substance use, abuse, certain psychiatric diagnoses, LGBTQ identity, prior attempts, and family factors or bullying).

What it means for you#

  • If you are under 26: health care providers and schools that train providers may get federal grant support to use validated screening, talk with families about lethal means safety, and offer referrals and follow-up care. You may see more provider training and public information tools.
  • If you are a health care provider or a school that trains health workers: you may be eligible to apply for grants to train staff, add curricula, receive technical assistance, and report annually on program activities.
  • If you are a family member or guardian: programs funded by grants may offer counseling about safe firearm storage and, where funded, reduced- or no-cost secure storage or safety devices along with instructions for their use.
  • Public access: grantee reports will be posted online and HHS must create an informational website about best practices.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $20,000,000 to carry out the health care setting grant program (Section 2) for fiscal years 2027 through 2030.
  • The bill authorizes $10,000,000 to carry out the curricula grant program for eligible schools (Section 3) for fiscal years 2027 through 2030.
  • No publicly available information about estimated total costs, offsets, or detailed budget impacts beyond these authorization amounts.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.