Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – The Senate today passed Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) bipartisan Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act. The legislation requires colleges and universities to provide the contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line and a campus mental health center on student identification cards. The bill passed the Senate in the 116th Congress by voice vote.

“Many Americans have known and loved someone who suffers with depression or anxiety. It’s a particular problem for our young people, and the global pandemic has only made a tough situation worse for too many college and university students. When students need help, many of them don’t know where to find it. The Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act would help ensure that students always have easy access to mental health resources. I hope the House sends it to the president’s desk immediately,” said Kennedy.  

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for young Americans, and a majority of cases of mental health issues begin by age 24. The global pandemic has made the situation more difficult: Roughly a quarter of college students say their depression has gotten worse during the pandemic. Over half of students do not know where to find help.

Colleges and universities can easily add the contact info for suicide hotlines and other mental health resources to student identification cards by updating existing templates or providing new basic identification stickers.  

Text of the Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act is available here.