§290ee–4 Mental and Behavioral Health Outreach and Education at Institutions of Higher Education

Summary

Create a focused education campaign on college campuses to make mental health services easier to get and to reduce stigma so students can complete their studies. The Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary and with the CDC Director, must form a public‑private working group to plan, run, and evaluate the campaign. The campaign will teach basic facts about mental health, encourage people to seek help for prevention and treatment, link mental health to academic success, and help people spot early warning signs while lowering stigma. The working group will include students and family members, college leaders (including minority‑serving schools and community colleges), national mental‑health and higher‑education groups, campus health promoters, mental‑health providers, and public and private experts in health campaigns. The group must create a plan that targets students and campus staff, uses research‑based messages, supports local anti‑stigma work with the National Health Information Center as a main contact for information and referrals, and proposes a social marketing campaign. Up to $1,000,000 is authorized for fiscal years 2023 through 2027. Institution of higher education: has the meaning given in section 1001 of title 20.