September 18, 2025
Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To require the Secretary of Education to issue a rule requiring schools to implement protocols for suicide prevention, postvention, and trauma-informed care.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Prevent Youth Suicide Act
.
Sec. 2. Rules on protocols for suicide prevention at any educational agency or institution serving students in grades 6 through grade 12
(a) Rule
Not later than 210 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall issue a rule requiring, as a condition of receipt of funds under an applicable program, that an educational agency or institution carry out each of the following:
(1) School-based suicide prevention protocols
The development and implementation of evidence-based suicide prevention programs tailored to the needs of students, which shall include—
(A)
biennial, evidence-based training for staff and faculty to—
(i)
identify signs of distress and risk factors for suicide in students; and
(ii)
in a case in which a student has been identified as exhibiting such signs or risk factors, guidelines for reporting such identification to parents and guidance counselors, and responding to concerns from such parents and counselors;
(B)
establishing a referral system to connect students in need to appropriate mental health resources at school and outside of school; and
(C)
conducting awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to reduce stigma associated with seeking help for mental health concerns.
(2) Suicide postvention support
The development and implementation of a suicide postvention plan to address the aftermath of a suicide, focusing on providing support to affected students, staff, and the broader community, which shall include—
(A)
guidelines for communication, memorialization, and resources for grief counseling; and
(B)
collaboration with mental health professionals and community organizations to ensure comprehensive postvention support.
(3) Trauma-informed care
The adoption of a trauma-informed approach in policies and practices to create a safe and supportive environment for all students, which shall include the provision of biennial trauma-sensitive training for school staff to help such staff understand the potential impact of trauma on students and to promote appropriate responses.
(b) Additional requirements for the Secretary of Education
(1) Technical assistance
The Secretary shall provide each educational agency or institution subject to the rule issued under subsection (a) with the resources, guidelines, and technical assistance to comply with the requirements of such rule.
(2) Compliance monitoring
The Secretary shall establish to ensure compliance with the rule issued under subsection (a), which shall include periodic assessments, evaluations, and audits of each such educational agency or institution.
(3) Feedback and improvement
The Secretary shall—
(A)
encourage educational agencies and institutions to provide feedback to the Secretary on the effectiveness of the requirements issued under the rule; and
(B)
review such feedback and make necessary revisions to such rule.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Applicable program
The term applicable program has the meaning given the term in section 400 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221).
(2) Educational agency or institution
The term educational agency or institution means an educational agency or institution (as defined in section 444(a)(3) of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)) that serves students in any grade from grade 6 through grade 12, as determined under State law.
(3) Parent
The term parent has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.
(5) Suicide postvention
The term suicide postvention means activities and support provided after a suicide has occurred, designed to help individuals cope with the loss, minimize potential negative impacts, and prevent contagion.
(6) Suicide prevention
The term suicide prevention means comprehensive strategies and actions aimed at identifying individuals at risk of suicide, providing appropriate interventions, and fostering a supportive environment to reduce the likelihood of suicidal behavior.
(7) Trauma-informed care
The term trauma-informed care means an approach based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities and triggers of individuals who have experienced trauma, recognize the role trauma has played in the lives of those individuals, recognize the presence of trauma symptoms and their onset, are supportive of trauma recovery, and avoid further traumatization.