# Plain Language Summary: Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act

This bill creates a new federal grant program to help middle schools and high schools start or expand student-led suicide prevention programs. The Department of Education would give out grants of up to $5,000 each to schools, school districts, tribal education programs, and similar organizations that want to teach students how to recognize warning signs of suicide and depression in their peers and respond appropriately. The idea is that students are often the first to notice when a friend is struggling, so training them to recognize these signs and know how to help could save lives.

The program prioritizes funding for schools that haven't received grants before, organizations planning to start brand new programs, and programs that are based on proven methods and culturally sensitive. The bill emphasizes that these should be student-led initiatives rather than programs run mainly by teachers or adults. Schools can combine these federal grants with other funding they already have. The bill also requires the Department of Education to work with mental health experts and provide technical assistance to help schools develop and run effective programs, while evaluating how well these programs actually work.

The federal government would authorize up to $20 million per year for this grant program. While this is a relatively modest amount of funding, it could help hundreds of schools across the country implement peer-to-peer suicide prevention training. For students and families, this means more schools may have programs where teenagers learn to support each other's mental health and know when to connect struggling friends with adult help or crisis resources.

Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act

Beyer, Donald S.

Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act This bill directs the Department of Education to establish a program to award grants to eligible entities (e.g., local educational agencies) for facilitating peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for middle and high school students.