# 119-hr-5353: Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act

119-hr-5353, Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5353
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5353
- Congress: 119
- Title: Peer to Peer Mental Health Support Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-15
- Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Would create a federal pilot to fund evidence-based peer mental health support in secondary schools.** It would award competitive grants to states, local governments, territories, and tribes to run peer-support programs, provide training, and measure student mental health outcomes. - Students and families: Students would have access to peer-led mental health support in secondary schools that must be overseen by a school-based mental health professional. Programs could train peers and adults to spot early signs, reduce risks, and connect students to professional services. - Schools and staff: Schools could use grant funds to implement evidence-based peer support activities and to train students, adult supervisors, and other staff. Any education records collected would have protections under FERPA. - State, local, territorial, and tribal governments: Eligible entities would apply competitively and must describe how they will measure and evaluate program progress. The pilot authority would terminate on September 30, 2029. - Federal agencies and researchers: The Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Education, would evaluate participation, trainings, student outcomes, and connections to professional care and report findings to Congress. The agencies would also provide technical assistance and share best practices.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] (R-PA), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2025-11-18T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More mental health help for students: benefit, low. If enacted, your child’s secondary school could get support through a new federal pilot for student peer mental health help. The Assistant Secretary, with the Education Secretary, would award competitive grants to states, territories, Tribes, and local governments that submit a plan to track studen…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5353 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5353)

## Related
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5353 (as of 2026-04-21).