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S 153 113th Congress Senate Health Education programs funding Emergency medical services and trauma care Health programs administration and funding Medical education Mental health

Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013

Introduced: September 19, 2013 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 24, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jan 24, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S291)
Jan 24, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to award grants to initiate and sustain mental health first aid training programs. Requires such a program to include: (1) core live training courses on the skills, resources, and knowledge necessary to assist individuals in crisis to connect with appropriate local mental health care services; (2) training on mental health resources, including the location of community mental health centers in the state and local community; and (3) training on action plans and protocols for referral to such resources.

States that the Secretary shall determine the categories of individuals to be trained.

Requires such programs to train individuals to accomplish: (1) safe de-escalation of crisis situations, (2) recognition of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and (3) timely referral to mental health services in the early stages of developing mental disorders.

Requires the Secretary, in awarding grants, to: (1) ensure that grants are equitably distributed among the geographical regions of the United States, and (2) pay particular attention to the mental health training needs of populations and target audiences residing in rural areas.

What's happening now January 24, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 153: Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-153/
MLA
"S. 153: Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-153/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 153, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-153/.
Markdown link
[S. 153: Mental Health First Aid Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-153/)
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