PEER Mental Health Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 1448 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1448 To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants for peer mental health first aid, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 21, 2025 Ms. Balint (for herself, Ms. Salinas, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants for peer mental health first aid, and for other purposes. 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 ``Peer Education and Emergency Response for Mental Health Act of 2025'' or the ``PEER Mental Health Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PEER MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. Title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 520J of such Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-41) the following: ``SEC. 520J-1. GRANTS FOR PEER MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities-- ``(1) to train teachers, other relevant school personnel (including education support professionals), students, and parents and caregivers of students-- ``(A) to recognize symptoms of childhood and adolescent mental health conditions; ``(B) to refer students to appropriate mental health services if necessary; and ``(C) to recognize signs of immediate mental distress and, upon recognizing such signs apply