HR 8657
Campus Lifeline Act of 2026
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Bill overview
The Campus Lifeline Act of 2026 aims to strengthen youth suicide prevention and intervention efforts by expanding the role of student groups on college campuses. It encourages these groups to educate students about mental health, reduce stigma, and recognize warning signs in their peers. The bill also focuses on increasing public awareness of the 988 suicide prevention hotline and establishing guidelines for crisis centers.
Key provisions
- Allows student groups (like athletic teams and mental health clubs) to support mental health education and peer intervention.
- Requires the inclusion of the 988 hotline on new state identification cards.
- Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop requirements for crisis centers.
- Mandates the development of a plan for awareness activities related to the 988 hotline.
- Expands the definition of awareness activities to include outreach initiatives.
Who is affected
- College students
- College student groups (athletic teams, mental health clubs)
- Institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Mental health professionals
Notable changes
- Increases the role of student groups in campus mental health initiatives.
- Mandates the inclusion of the 988 hotline on identification cards.
- Requires the development of standards for crisis centers.
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8657
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance programs for youth suicide prevention and intervention, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Campus Lifeline Act of 2026
.
Section 520E–2(b)(10) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36b(b)(10)) is amended to read as follows:
educate students, including activities to reduce stigma surrounding mental and behavioral health disorders, and promote mental health; and
Section 520E–3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36c) is amended—
in subsection (b)(4), by striking including by
and all that follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting
coordinating with and encouraging States and institutions of higher education to list the 988 hotline on newly issued identification cards.
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1), by striking and maintaining the suicide prevention hotline under subsection (b)(2),
and inserting , maintaining the suicide prevention hotline under subsection (b)(2), and improving awareness of the program under subsection (b)(4),
;
in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting , including awareness activities under subsection (b)(4),
after the program
; and
in paragraph (3)—
by striking In developing
and inserting the following:
by adding at the end the following: