Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act

S 3453 establishes a federal grant program to fund evidence-based peer-to-peer mental health support programs in secondary schools. It provides competitive grants to eligible entities (like school districts, tribal organizations, or the Bureau of Indian Education) to train students as peer support specialists who offer mental health assistance to fellow students. Key requirements include mandatory training for peers and staff on topics like recognizing mental health risks, connecting students to professional services, and program oversight by certified supervisors, all while maintaining student privacy under FERPA. The program prioritizes schools in high-suicide-rate areas or those lacking such services, with grants capped at $250,000 per recipient and requiring annual evaluations of student outcomes.