S.1924 - Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.1924, the "Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act," mandates that institutions creating student identification cards include contact information for suicide prevention resources, specifically the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and a campus mental health center. For institutions not issuing ID cards, this information must be published on their website. The Act aims to improve access to mental health resources for students.
Expected Effects
This bill will likely increase awareness and accessibility of suicide prevention resources for college students. By providing readily available contact information, students in crisis may be more likely to seek help. The Act also places a responsibility on institutions to provide this information, either on ID cards or on their websites.
Potential Benefits
- Increased awareness of suicide prevention resources among students.
- Easier access to help for students in crisis.
- Promotes mental health support on college campuses.
- Could reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health assistance.
- May lead to earlier intervention and prevention of suicide attempts.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential cost for institutions to update and reprint ID cards, although this is likely minimal.
- The effectiveness depends on students actually using the provided resources.
- May not address the underlying causes of mental health issues among students.
- Possible burden on campus mental health centers if demand increases significantly.
- The act does not address mental health for non-students.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it aims to promote the well-being of students. Specifically, the preamble states the intention to "promote the general Welfare." Furthermore, the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people; however, in this case, the federal government is acting through its spending power by regulating institutions receiving federal funds under the Higher Education Act.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).