Compare Bills

Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-04-08

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language 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.