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HR 5235 117th Congress House

Student Mental Health Helpline Act of 2021

Official title: 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 Su… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: 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 to eligible entities to establish or maintain a student mental health and safety helpline, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 20, 2021 See on congress.gov
Health Child healthCongressional oversightEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary education
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Emergency communications systemsGovernment information and archivesHealth information and medical recordsHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHigher educationMental healthTeaching, teachers, curricula
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Sep 13, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 10, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Sep 10, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 13, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Student Mental Health Helpline Act of 2021

This bill authorizes grants to support student mental health and safety helplines (i.e., a free, confidential service that is accessible via telephone and other communication platforms that assists students facing challenges with abuse, bullying, depression, self-harm, and related issues). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) may award the grants to agencies or other subdivisions of a state, Indian tribe, or local government that are primarily responsible for health, public health, or education.

Among other purposes, recipients must use funds to establish or maintain a helpline that provides information to school officials (to the extent permitted by federal privacy standards for health information) about student mental health and safety concerns.

The bill also requires SAMHSA to report on the feasibility of setting up a nationally available student mental health and safety helpline.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 3
Vela, Filemon
· Oct 21, 2021
 D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · Oct 20, 2021
 D
Pappas, Chris
New Hampshire · Sep 30, 2021
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Sep 30, 2021
Stewart, Chris
· Sep 10, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5235: Student Mental Health Helpline Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5235/
MLA
"H.R. 5235: Student Mental Health Helpline Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5235/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5235, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5235/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5235: Student Mental Health Helpline Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5235/)
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