# Understanding the STANDUP Act of 2021

This bill requires schools that receive federal mental health funding to teach students about suicide awareness and prevention. Specifically, any school getting money through a federal program called Project AWARE must create and carry out a policy that trains students in grades 6 through 12 about recognizing warning signs of suicide, how to get help for themselves or others, and what resources are available. Schools have flexibility in how they deliver this training—they can do it in person, online, or through a train-the-trainer model where some students teach others. The training needs to happen at least once per school year, and schools can customize it to fit their community's needs and culture.

The bill also requires schools to work with parents, teachers, principals, and other community members when developing their suicide prevention policies, ensuring that local voices shape what gets taught. Schools must then collect and report data on how many students received the training and how many students reached out for help after learning about these resources. The federal government will create a list of best practices and provide guidance to help schools figure out what works best, and schools have until about three years after the bill passes to get their programs up and running.

The practical impact is that millions of middle and high school students will receive consistent education about mental health and suicide prevention, potentially helping them recognize when they or their peers are struggling and know where to turn for help. For parents, this means schools are taking a more coordinated approach to mental health awareness rather than leaving it to chance. For schools, it means dedicating time and resources to this training, though the bill allows them to choose how to do it in ways that fit their budget and circumstances.

STANDUP Act of 2021

Peters, Scott H.

Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention Act of 2021 or the STANDUP Act of 2021 This bill requires state, tribal, and local educational agencies that receive grant funding for priority mental-health needs, including through the Project AWARE State Education Agency Grant Program, to establish and implement evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention training policies. In addition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in coordination with the Department of Education and Bureau of Indian Education, must provide educational agencies with best practices for these trainings.