,,ii  #aadth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #bfhe  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,march #ae1    
#bjaf,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself1 ,ms4    
,collins1 and ,mr4 ,bennet7 introduced  
the following bill2 which was read twice
 and referred to the ,committee on      
,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and        
,pensions  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend the     
,public ,health ,service ,act to improve
 mental and behavioral health services  
on campuses of institutions of higher   
education4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act 
may be cited as the ,mental ,health on  
,campus ,improvement ,act4  #b4         
,findings ,congress makes the following 
findings3  7#a7 ,the #bjad ,association 
of ,university and ,college ,counseling 
,center ,directors ,survey found that   
the average ratio of counselors to      
students on campus is nearly #a to      
#a1hcc and is often far higher on large 
campuses4 ,the ,international           
,association of ,counseling ,services   
accreditation standards recommends #a   

counselor per #a1jjj to #a1ejj students4
  7#b7 ,college counselors report that  
#aj percent of enrolled students sought 
counseling in #bjad4  7#c7 ,more than   
#ij percent of counseling directors     
believe there is an increase in the     
number of students coming to campus with
 severe psychological problems2 today1  
#dd percent of the students who visit   
campus counseling centers are dealing   
with severe mental illness1 up from #af 
percent in #bjjj1 and #bd percent are on
 psychiatric medication1 up from #ag    
percent in #bjjj4  7#d7 ,the majority of
 campus counseling directors report that
 the demand for services and the        
severity of student needs are growing   
without an increase in resources4  7#e7 
,many students who need help never      
receive it4 ,only #ae percent of college
 and university students who commit     
suicide received campus counseling4 ,of 
students who seriously consider suicide 
each year1 only #eb percent of them seek
 any professional help at all4  7#f7 ,a 

#bjae ,american ,college ,health        
,association survey of more than #ic1jjj
 college and university students        
revealed that1 within the last #ab      
months1 #eg percent of students report  
having felt overwhelming anxiety1 #ce   
percent felt so depressed it was        
difficult to function1 and #dh percent  
felt hopeless4 ,however1 only #ab       
percent of students reported receiving  
professional treatment for anxiety      
within the past #ab months1 and #aa     
percent reported receiving treatment for
 depression within the past #ab months4 
7#g7 ,the #bjae ,american ,college      
,health ,association survey also found  
that #i percent of students have        
seriously considered suicide in the past
 #ab months1 a #bj-percent increase     
compared to #bjab4  7#h7 ,research      
conducted between #aiig and #bjji1 and  
presented at the #aahth annual          
convention of the ,american             
,psychological ,association found that  
more students are grappling with        

depression and anxiety disorders than   
were a decade ago4 ,the study found that
 of students who sought college or      
university counseling1 #da percent had  
moderate to severe depression in #bjji1 
that number was #cd percent in #aiig4   
7#i7 ,a survey conducted by the student 
counseling center at the ,university of 
,idaho in #bjjj found that #gg percent  
of students who responded reported that 
they were more likely to stay in school 
because of counseling and that their    
school performance would have declined  
without counseling4  7#aj7 ,students    
with psychological issues often struggle
 academically and are at risk for       
dropping out of school4 ,counseling has 
been shown to address these issues while
 having a positive impact on students   
remaining in school4 ,a #f-year         
longitudinal study found college and    
university students receiving counseling
 to have a #aa4d-percent higher         
retention rate than the general college 
and university population4  7#aa7 ,a    

national survey of college and          
university students living with mental  
health conditions1 conducted by the     
,national ,alliance on ,mental ,illness1
 found that #fd percent of students who 
experience mental health problems in    
college or a university and withdraw    
from school do so because of their      
mental health issues4 ,the survey also  
found that #ej percent of that group    
never accessed mental health services   
and supports4  #c4 ,improving mental and
 behavioral health on college campuses  
,title ,v of the ,public ,health        
,service ,act is amended by inserting   
after section #ebj;,e-#b 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#bij;bb-#cf;b7 the following3           
#ebj;,e-#c4 ,grants to improve mental   
and behavioral health on college        
campuses  7a7 ,purpose ,it is the       
purpose of this section1 with respect to
 settings at institutions of higher     
education1 to--  7#a7 increase access to
 mental and behavioral health services2 
7#b7 foster and improve the prevention  

of mental and behavioral health         
disorders1 and the promotion of mental  
health2  7#c7 improve the identification
 and treatment for students at risk2    
7#d7 improve collaboration and the      
development of appropriate levels of    
mental and behavioral health care2  7#e7
 reduce the stigma for students with    
mental health disorders and enhance     
their access to mental health services2 
and  7#f7 improve the efficacy of       
outreach efforts4  7b7 ,grants ,the     
,secretary1 acting through the          
,administrator and in consultation with 
the ,secretary of ,education1 shall     
award competitive grants to eligible    
entities to improve mental and          
behavioral health services and outreach 
on campuses of institutions of higher   
education4  7c7 ,eligibility ,to be     
eligible to receive a grant under       
subsection 7b71 an entity shall-- 7#a7  
be an institution of higher education2  
and  7#b7 submit to the ,secretary an   
application at such time1 in such       

manner1 and containing such information 
as the ,secretary may require1 including
 the information required under         
subsection 7d74  7d7 ,application ,an   
application for a grant under this      
section shall include-- 7#a7 a          
description of the population to be     
targeted by the program carried out     
under the grant1 including the          
particular mental and behavioral health 
needs of the students involved2  7#b7 a 
description of the ,federal1 ,state1    
local1 private1 and institutional       
resources available for meeting the     
needs of such students at the time the  
application is submitted2  7#c7 an      
outline of the objectives of the program
 carried out under the grant2  7#d7 a   
description of activities1 services1 and
 training to be provided under the      
program1 including planned outreach     
strategies to reach students not        
currently seeking services2  7#e7 a plan
 to seek input from community mental    
health providers1 when available1       

community groups1 and other public and  
private entities in carrying out the    
program2  7#f7 a plan1 when applicable1 
to meet the specific mental and         
behavioral health needs of veterans     
attending institutions of higher        
education2  7#g7 a description of the   
methods to be used to evaluate the      
outcomes and effectiveness of the       
program2 and  7#h7 an assurance that    
grant funds will be used to supplement1 
and not supplant1 any other ,federal1   
,state1 or local funds available to     
carry out activities of the type carried
 out under the grant4  7e7 ,special     
considerations ,in awarding grants under
 this section1 the ,secretary shall give
 special consideration to applications  
that describe programs to be carried out
 under the grant that--  7#a7           
demonstrate the greatest need for new or
 additional mental and behavioral health
 services1 in part by providing         
information on current ratios of        
students to mental and behavioral health

 professionals2  7#b7 propose effective 
approaches for initiating or expanding  
campus services and supports using      
evidence-based practices1 including peer
 support strategies2  7#c7 target       
traditionally underserved populations   
and populations most at risk2  7#d7     
where possible1 demonstrate an awareness
 of1 and a willingness to1 coordinate   
with a community mental health center or
 other mental health resource in the    
community1 to support screening and     
referral of students requiring intensive
 services2  7#e7 identify how the       
institution of higher education will    
address psychiatric emergencies1        
including how information will be       
communicated with families or other     
appropriate parties2  7#f7 propose      
innovative practices that will improve  
efficiencies in clinical care1 broaden  
collaborations with primary care1 or    
improve prevention programs2 and  7#g7  
demonstrate the greatest potential for  
replication and dissemination4  7f7 ,use

 of funds ,amounts received under a     
grant under this section may be used    
to--  7#a7 provide mental and behavioral
 health services to students1 including 
prevention1 promotion of mental health1 
voluntary screening1 early intervention1
 voluntary assessment1 treatment1       
management1 and education services      
relating to the mental and behavioral   
health of students2  7#b7 conduct       
research through a counseling or health 
center at the institution of higher     
education involved regarding improving  
the mental and behavioral health of     
students through clinical services1     
outreach1 prevention1 or academic       
success1 in a manner that is in         
compliance with the health privacy and  
security rules promulgated under section
 #bfd7;c7 of the ,health ,insurance     
,portability and ,accountability ,act of
 #aiif 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;d-#b note72 
7#c7 provide outreach services to notify
 students about the existence of mental 
and behavioral health services2  7#d7   

educate students1 families1 faculty1    
staff1 and communities to increase      
awareness of mental health issues2  7#e7
 support student groups on campus1      
including athletic teams1 that engage in
 activities to educate students1        
including activities to reduce stigma   
surrounding mental and behavioral       
disorders1 and promote mental health    
wellness2  7#f7 employ appropriately    
trained staff2  7#g7 provide training to
 students1 faculty1 and staff to respond
 effectively to students with mental and
 behavioral health issues2  7#h7 expand 
mental health training through          
internship1 post-doctorate1 and         
residency programs2  7#i7 develop and   
support evidence-based and emerging best
 practices1 including a focus on        
culturally and linguistically           
appropriate best practices2 and  7#aj7  
evaluate and disseminate best practices 
to other institutions of higher         
education4  7g7 ,duration of grants ,a  
grant under this section shall be       

awarded for a period not to exceed #c   
years4  7h7 ,evaluation and reporting   
7#a7 ,evaluation ,not later than #ah    
months after the date on which a grant  
is received under this section1 the     
eligible entity involved shall submit to
 the ,secretary the results of an       
evaluation to be conducted by the entity
 7or by another party under contract    
with the entity7 concerning the         
effectiveness of the activities carried 
out under the grant and plans for the   
sustainability of such efforts4  7#b7   
,report ,not later than #b years after  
the date of enactment of the ,mental    
,health on ,campus ,improvement ,act1   
the ,secretary shall submit to the      
appropriate committees of ,congress a   
report concerning the results of--  7,a7
 the evaluations conducted under        
paragraph 7#a72 and  7,b7 an evaluation 
conducted by the ,secretary to analyze  
the effectiveness and efficacy of the   
activities conducted with grants under  
this section4  7i7 ,technical assistance

 ,the ,secretary may provide technical  
assistance to grantees in carrying out  
this section4  7j7 ,definition ,in this 
section1 the term institution of higher 
education has the meaning given such    
term in section #aja of the ,higher     
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajja74  7k7 ,authorization of          
appropriations ,there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be     
necessary to carry out this section4    
#ebj;,e-#d4 ,mental and behavioral      
health outreach and education on college
 campuses  7a7 ,purpose ,it is the      
purpose of this section to increase     
access to1 and reduce the stigma        
associated with1 mental health services 
to ensure that students at institutions 
of higher education have the support    
necessary to successfully complete their
 studies4  7b7 ,national ,public        
,education ,campaign ,the ,secretary1   
acting through the ,administrator and in
 collaboration with the ,director of the
 ,centers for ,disease ,control and     

,prevention1 shall convene an           
interagency1 public-private sector      
working group to plan1 establish1 and   
begin coordinating and evaluating a     
targeted public education campaign that 
is designed to focus on mental and      
behavioral health on the campuses of    
institutions of higher education4 ,such 
campaign shall be designed to--  7#a7   
improve the general understanding of    
mental health and mental health         
disorders2  7#b7 encourage help-seeking 
behaviors relating to the promotion of  
mental health1 prevention of mental     
health disorders1 and treatment of such 
disorders2  7#c7 make the connection    
between mental and behavioral health and
 academic success2 and  7#d7 assist the 
general public in identifying the early 
warning signs and reducing the stigma of
 mental illness4  7c7 ,composition ,the 
working group convened under subsection 
7b7 shall include-- 7#a7 mental health  
consumers1 including students and family
 members2  7#b7 representatives of      

institutions of higher education2  7#c7 
representatives of national mental and  
behavioral health associations and      
associations of institutions of higher  
education2  7#d7 representatives of     
health promotion and prevention         
organizations at institutions of higher 
education2  7#e7 representatives of     
mental health providers1 including      
community mental health centers2 and    
7#f7 representatives of private- and    
public-sector groups with experience in 
the development of effective public     
health education campaigns4  7d7 ,plan  
,the working group under subsection 7b7 
shall develop a plan that-- 7#a7 targets
 promotional and educational efforts to 
the age population of students at       
institutions of higher education and    
individuals who are employed in settings
 of institutions of higher education1   
including through the use of            
roundtables2  7#b7 develops and proposes
 the implementation of research-based   
public health messages and activities2  

7#c7 provides support for local efforts 
to reduce stigma by using the ,national 
,health ,information ,center as a       
primary point of contact for            
information1 publications1 and service  
program referrals2 and  7#d7 develops   
and proposes the implementation of a    
social marketing campaign that is       
targeted at the population of students  
attending institutions of higher        
education and individuals who are       
employed in settings of institutions of 
higher education4  7e7 ,definition ,in  
this section1 the term institution of   
higher education has the meaning given  
such term in section #aja of the ,higher
 ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4
 #ajja74  7f7 ,authorization of         
appropriations ,there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be     
necessary to carry out this section4  4 
#d4 ,interagency ,working ,group on     
,college ,mental ,health  7a7 ,purpose  
,it is the purpose of this section to   
provide for the establishment of a      

,college ,campus ,task ,force to discuss
 mental and behavioral health concerns  
on campuses of institutions of higher   
education4  7b7 ,establishment ,the     
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services 7referred to in this section  
as the ,secretary7 shall establish a    
,college ,campus ,task ,force 7referred 
to in this section as the ,task ,force7 
to discuss mental and behavioral health 
concerns on campuses of institutions of 
higher education4  7c7 ,membership ,the 
,task ,force shall be composed of a     
representative from each ,federal agency
 7as appointed by the head of the       
agency7 that has jurisdiction over1 or  
is affected by1 mental health and       
education policies and projects1        
including--  7#a7 the ,department of    
,education2  7#b7 the ,department of    
,health and ,human ,services2  7#c7 the 
,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 and  
7#d7 such other ,federal agencies as the
 ,administrator of the ,substance ,abuse
 and ,mental ,health ,services          

,administration1 in consultation with   
the ,secretary1 determines to be        
appropriate4  7d7 ,duties ,the ,task    
,force shall-- 7#a7 serve as a          
centralized mechanism to coordinate a   
national effort--  7,a7 to discuss and  
evaluate evidence and knowledge on      
mental and behavioral health services   
available to1 and the prevalence of     
mental health illness among1 the age    
population of students attending        
institutions of higher education in the 
,united ,states2  7,b7 to determine the 
range of effective1 feasible1 and       
comprehensive actions to improve mental 
and behavioral health on campuses of    
institutions of higher education2  7,c7 
to examine and better address the needs 
of the age population of students       
attending institutions of higher        
education dealing with mental illness2  
7,d7 to survey ,federal agencies to     
determine which policies are effective  
in encouraging1 and how best to         
facilitate outreach without duplicating1

 efforts relating to mental and         
behavioral health promotion2  7,e7 to   
establish specific goals within and     
across ,federal agencies for mental     
health promotion1 including             
determinations of accountability for    
reaching those goals2  7,f7 to develop a
 strategy for allocating                
responsibilities and ensuring           
participation in mental and behavioral  
health promotions1 particularly in the  
case of competing agency priorities2    
7,g7 to coordinate plans to communicate 
research results relating to mental and 
behavioral health amongst the age       
population of students attending        
institutions of higher education to     
enable reporting and outreach activities
 to produce more useful and timely      
information2  7,h7 to provide a         
description of evidence-based best      
practices1 model programs1 effective    
guidelines1 and other strategies for    
promoting mental and behavioral health  
on campuses of institutions of higher   

education2  7,i7 to make recommendations
 to improve ,federal efforts relating to
 mental and behavioral health promotion 
on campuses of institutions of higher   
education and to ensure ,federal efforts
 are consistent with available standards
 and evidence and other programs in     
existence as of the date of enactment of
 this ,act2 and  7,j7 to monitor        
,federal progress in meeting specific   
mental and behavioral health promotion  
goals as they relate to settings of     
institutions of higher education2  7#b7 
consult with national organizations with
 expertise in mental and behavioral     
health1 especially those organizations  
working with the age population of      
students attending institutions of      
higher education2 and  7#c7 consult with
 and seek input from mental health      
professionals working on campuses of    
institutions of higher education as     
appropriate4  7e7 ,meetings  7#a7 ,in   
general ,the ,task ,force shall meet not
 less than #c times each year4  7#b7    

,annual conference ,the ,secretary shall
 sponsor an annual conference on mental 
and behavioral health in settings of    
institutions of higher education to     
enhance coordination1 build             
partnerships1 and share best practices  
in mental and behavioral health         
promotion1 data collection1 analysis1   
and services4  7f7 ,definition ,in this 
section1 the term institution of higher 
education has the meaning given such    
term in section #aja of the ,higher     
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajja74  7g7 ,authorization of          
appropriations ,there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be     
necessary to carry out this section4