"Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act"; requires institutions of higher education to implement mental health programs and services.

New Jersey's Senate Bill S 896, the "Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act," requires all public and private colleges and universities in the state to implement comprehensive mental health programs. The bill mandates annual student orientation sessions on mental health, online screening tools for depression/anxiety by 2027, peer support programs using recovery-model best practices, and mandatory Mental Health First Aid training for advisors and campus security staff. Institutions must also form partnerships with community providers to meet a benchmark of one clinical staff member per 1,250 students, while expanding access to on-campus and off-campus services. This law directly affects students seeking mental health support and institutions responsible for implementing these new requirements.