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Last Action

Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-04-07

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $1,873,863 in state funding to expand Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training across North Carolina. tMHFA is an evidence-based course that teaches high school students (grades 9-12) how to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges in their peers.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that teen mental health crises are widespread in North Carolina, with 10% of high school students attempting suicide and 22% seriously contemplating it.
• •They point to evidence that tMHFA training increases teens' willingness to seek help by 50% and helps connect struggling peers with trusted adults.
• •Expanding this program statewide could provide potentially life-saving support to thousands of additional students.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may question whether $1.87 million is the most effective use of limited state resources for mental health, or whether funding should prioritize professional mental health services instead.
• •Some may express concerns about whether peer-based intervention should substitute for licensed counselor involvement, or whether the curriculum adequately prepares teens to handle crises appropriately.