The Suicide Prevention Act would create grants for public health departments to improve tracking of suicide and self-harm. Grantees would share data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in real time when feasible. The bill also would create grants for hospital emergency departments to screen patients, provide short-term prevention services, and refer patients for longer-term care. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Public health departments could apply for surveillance grants and would agree to participate for at least four years. Hospital emergency departments could apply for three-year grants to support prevention services, including hiring or training staff. Patients may receive screening, short-term support, or referrals through participating departments. The bill says existing privacy laws would continue to apply.
The bill authorizes $30 million for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the surveillance program, and the same amount for each year for the hospital grant program. These are authorizations for appropriations; the text does not state that the money has been appropriated.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.