Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2023

To address behavioral health and well-being among education professionals and other school staff. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2023 2. Dissemination of best practices Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary (1) preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff; and (2) training education professionals and other school staff in appropriate strategies to support, maintain, and promote their mental health. 3. Education and awareness initiative encouraging use of mental health and substance use disorder services by education professionals and other school staff (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including medical professional associations, shall establish a national evidence-based or evidence-informed education and awareness initiative— (1) to encourage education professionals and other school staff to seek support and care for their mental health or substance use concerns, to help such professionals and staff identify factors associated with risks for suicide and mental health conditions, and to help such professionals and staff learn how best to respond to such risks, with the goal of preventing suicide, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders; and (2) to address stigma associated with seeking mental health and substance use disorder services. (b) Reporting Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the Congress an update on the activities and outcomes of the initiative under subsection (a), including a description of quantitative and qualitative metrics used to evaluate such activities and outcomes. (c) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026. 4. Programs to promote mental health among the education workforce Subpart I of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 294n et seq. (1) by redesignating the second section 764 ( 42 U.S.C. 294t Public Law 117–105 (2) by inserting after such section 764A, as so redesignated, the following: 764B. Programs to promote mental health among the education workforce (a) Programs To promote mental health among education professionals and other school staff (1) In general The Secretary shall award grants or contracts to eligible entities to establish or enhance evidence-based or evidence-informed programs dedicated to improving mental health and resiliency for education professionals and other school staff. (2) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant or contract under this subsection, an entity shall be a State educational agency, a local educational agency, an institution of higher education, or a consortia thereof. (3) Use of funds An recipient of a grant or contract under this subsection shall use funds received through the grant or contract to implement a new program or enhance an existing program to promote mental health among education professionals and other school staff, which may include— (A) improving awareness among education professionals and other school staff about risk factors for, and signs of, suicide and mental health or substance use disorders, in accordance with evidence-based or evidence-informed practices; (B) establishing new, or enhancing existing, evidence-based or evidence-informed programs for preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff; (C) establishing new, or enhancing existing, peer-support programs among education professionals and other school staff; or (D) providing mental health care, follow-up services and care by a licensed or certified mental health professional (including by means of telehealth), or a referral for such care or services by a licensed or certified mental health professional, as appropriate. (4) Priority In awarding grants and contracts under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities in areas with a high percentage of schools receiving financial assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (b) Training grants The Secretary may establish a program to award grants to institutions of higher education, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, State or local governments, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities (or consortia of entities, including entities promoting multidisciplinary approaches) to support the inclusion in educator preparation programs (including administrator preparation programs), and in training, continuing education, or professional development programs for education professionals and other school staff, of evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies— (1) to address mental and substance use disorders; and (2) to improve mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff. (c) Grant terms A grant or contract awarded under subsection (a) or (b) shall be for a period of 3 years. (d) Application submission An entity seeking a grant or contract under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Annual report An entity awarded a grant or contract under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit to the Secretary an annual report evaluating the activities supported by the grant or contract. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term institution of higher education (2) The terms local educational agency State educational agency (g) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026. . 5. Review with respect to education workforce mental health and resiliency (a) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall— (1) conduct a review on improving— (A) the mental health of education professionals and other school staff; and (B) the outcomes of programs authorized under this Act; and (2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such review. (b) Considerations The review under subsection (a) may include— (1) assessing the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions among education professionals and other school staff, and determining the factors that contribute to those mental health conditions; (2) assessing barriers to seeking and accessing mental health care for education professionals and other school staff, and actions taken by State educational agencies and local educational agencies, or other organizations, as appropriate, to address such barriers; (3) determining the effects of the COVID–19 public health emergency on the mental health of education professionals and other school staff and lessons learned for future public health emergencies; (4) assessing programs and policies that promote mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff, including programs and policies to strengthen mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff; and (5) assessing the efficacy of training programs for education professionals and other school staff that promote resiliency and improve mental health. (c) Recommendations The review under subsection (a), as appropriate, shall identify best practices related to, and make recommendations to address— (1) improving mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff; (2) removing barriers to mental health care for education professionals and other school staff; and (3) strategies to promote resiliency among education professionals and other school staff in health care settings. 6. GAO report Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Congress a report on the extent to which Federal substance use disorder and mental health grant programs address the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions and substance use disorders among education professionals and other school staff. Such report shall— (1) include an analysis of available evidence and data related to such conditions and programs; and (2) assess whether there are duplicative goals and objectives among such grant programs.

Summary: Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2023 This bill establishes grants and requires other activities to improve mental and behavioral health among education professionals and other school staff. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants or contracts to educational agencies, institutions of higher education, or consortia of such entities for programs to promote mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff. In addition, HHS may award grants for educator preparation programs and training. Additionally, HHS must conduct a campaign to (1) encourage education professionals and other school staff to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns, and (2) disseminate best practices to prevent suicide and improve mental health and resiliency among education professionals and other school staff. HHS must also study and develop policy recommendations on improving mental and behavioral health among education professionals and other school staff, removing barriers to accessing care and treatment, and identifying strategies to promote resiliency. Furthermore, the Government Accountability Office must report on the extent to which relevant federal grant programs address the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions and substance use disorders among education professionals and other school staff.