Grants to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services

Subpart 3 of part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–31 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 520O. Grants to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services (a) In general The Secretary shall award grants to hospital emergency departments to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services. (b) Activities supported (1) In general A hospital emergency department awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall use amounts under the grant to implement a program or protocol to better prevent suicide attempts among hospital patients after discharge, which may include— (A) screening patients for self-harm and suicide in accordance with the standards of practice described in subsection (e)(1) and standards of care established by appropriate medical and advocacy organizations; (B) providing patients short-term self-harm and suicide prevention services in accordance with the results of the screenings described in subparagraph (A); and (C) referring patients, as appropriate, to a health care facility or provider for purposes of receiving long-term self-harm and suicide prevention services, and providing any additional follow up services and care identified as appropriate as a result of the screenings and short-term self-harm and suicide prevention services described in subparagraphs (A) and (B). (2) Use of funds to hire and train staff Amounts awarded under subsection (a) may be used to hire clinical social workers, mental and behavioral health care professionals, and support staff as appropriate, and to train existing staff and newly hired staff to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). (c) Grant terms A grant awarded under subsection (a)— (1) shall be for a period of 3 years; and (2) may be renewed subject to the requirements of this section. (d) Applications A hospital emergency department seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Standards of Practice (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop standards of practice for screening patients for self-harm and suicide for purposes of carrying out subsection (b)(1)(C). (2) Consultation The Secretary shall develop the standards of practice described in paragraph (1) in consultation with individuals and entities with expertise in self-harm and suicide prevention, including public, private, and nonprofit entities. (f) Reporting (1) Reports to the Secretary (A) In general A hospital emergency department awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall, at least quarterly for the duration of the grant, submit to the Secretary a report evaluating the activities supported by the grant. (B) Matters to be included The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include— (i) the number of patients receiving— (I) screenings carried out at the hospital emergency department; (II) short-term self-harm and suicide prevention services at the hospital emergency department; and (III) referrals to health care facilities for the purposes of receiving long-term self-harm and suicide prevention; (ii) information on the adherence of the hospital emergency department to the standards of practice described in subsection (e)(1); and (iii) other information as the Secretary determines appropriate to evaluate the use of grant funds. (2) Reports to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the Suicide Prevention Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the grant program under this section, including— (A) a summary of reports received by the Secretary under paragraph (1); and (B) an evaluation of the program by the Secretary. (g) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030..