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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§294u Education and Awareness Initiative Encouraging Use of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services by Health Care Professionals

Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER V — HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION › Part E — Health Professions and Public Health Workforce › subpart 1 — health professions workforce information and analysis › § 294u

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must create a national, evidence-based education and awareness program, working with relevant groups like medical professional associations. The program must encourage health care workers to get help for mental health or substance use problems, teach how to spot and respond to suicide risk and other mental health issues, and fight the stigma around seeking care. No later than 2 years after March 18, 2022, and every year after, the Secretary must report to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee about the program’s activities and results, including the measures used to evaluate it. Up to $10,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §294u

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
The Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including medical professional associations, shall establish a national evidence-based or evidence-informed education and awareness initiative—
(1)to encourage health care professionals to seek support and care for their mental health or substance use concerns, to help such professionals identify risk factors associated with suicide and mental health conditions, and to help such professionals learn how best to respond to such risks, with the goal of preventing suicide, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders; and
(2)to address stigma associated with seeking mental health and substance use disorder services.
(b)Reporting
Not later than 2 years after March 18, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives an update on the activities and outcomes of the initiative under subsection (a), including a description of quantitative and qualitative metrics used to evaluate such activities and outcomes.
(c)Authorization of appropriations
To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter. Section was formerly set out as a note under section 294t of this title.

Amendments

2026—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6508(b)(1), inserted “and annually thereafter,” for “March 18, 2022”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6508(b)(2), substituted “2026 through 2030” for “2022 through 2024”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 294u

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110