The Student Mental Health Line Awareness Act
Plain English Summary
This bill requires public schools, charter schools, regional schools, and laboratory schools in North Carolina to print three mental health crisis helpline numbers on student identification cards issued to grades 6-12 students: the 988 Lifeline, Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741), and the NC Statewide Warmline (1-855-733-7762). Nonpublic schools are encouraged but not required to do the same. Schools must verify these numbers are accurate and current annually.
Arguments in Favor
Supporters argue this bill provides students in crisis with immediate access to mental health resources during their most vulnerable moments. By printing helpline numbers on IDs that students carry daily, the bill increases awareness of available support services among middle and high school students who may not know these resources exist. Proponents believe this low-cost intervention can help prevent suicide and provide critical support for students experiencing mental health emergencies.
Arguments Against
Opponents may contend that printing numbers on ID cards is a minimal intervention with unclear effectiveness at actually reducing student mental health crises or suicide rates. Some school administrators might express concerns about implementation costs, design constraints on ID cards, or whether this approach addresses root causes of student mental health problems. Additionally, critics could argue that schools should focus resources on comprehensive mental health services and support rather than relying on external crisis hotlines as a primary solution.
AI-generated analysis based on bill text. Always verify with official sources at ncleg.gov. This is not legal or political advice.
Sponsors
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 106
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 93
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 56
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 9
Cosponsors (27)
Representative · District 18
Representative · District 114
Representative · District 12
Representative · District 48
Representative · District 27
Representative · District 41
Representative · District 30
Representative · District 102
Representative · District 8
Representative · District 112
Representative · District 71
Representative · District 40
Representative · District 50
Representative · District 36
Representative · District 45
Representative · District 92
Representative · District 61
Representative · District 66
Representative · District 98
Representative · District 88
Representative · District 11
Representative · District 31
Representative · District 57
Representative · District 83
Representative · District 39
Representative · District 34
Representative · District 107