HF 3918

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/16/2026 05:37 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to health; authorizing the commissioner of health to award grants for
peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs and programs to train high school students
as peer mentors; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145.56, subdivision
2, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145.56, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Community-based programs.

To the extent funds are appropriated for the
purposes of this subdivision, the commissioner shall establish a grant program to fund:

(1) community-based programs to provide education, outreach, and advocacy services
to populations who may be at risk for suicide;

(2) community-based programs that educate community helpers and gatekeepers, such
as family members, spiritual leaders, coaches, and business owners, employers, and
coworkers on how to prevent suicide by encouraging help-seeking behaviors;

(3) community-based programs that educate populations at risk for suicide and community
helpers and gatekeepers that must include information on the symptoms of depression and
other psychiatric illnesses, the warning signs of suicide, skills for preventing suicides, and
making or seeking effective referrals to intervention and community resources;

(4) community-based programs to provide evidence-based suicide prevention and
intervention education to school staff, parents, and students in grades kindergarten through
12, and for students attending Minnesota colleges and universities new text begin . Programs funded under
this clause may include peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for students in grades 9
through 12 and programs to train students in grades 9 through 12 to serve as peer mentors
in peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs, according to subdivision 2a new text end ;

(5) community-based programs to provide evidence-based suicide prevention and
intervention to public school nurses, teachers, administrators, coaches, school social workers,
peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical
technicians, paramedics, primary care providers, and others; and

(6) community-based, evidence-based postvention training to mental health professionals
and practitioners in order to provide technical assistance to communities after a suicide and
to prevent suicide clusters and contagion.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145.56, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs and training programs. new text end

new text begin The
commissioner may award grants available through the grant program under subdivision 2
to school districts, charter schools, contract alternative schools, and nonprofit organizations
to fund peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for students in grades 9 through 12 and
programs to train students in grades 9 through 12 to serve as peer mentors in a peer-to-peer
suicide prevention program. A peer-to-peer suicide prevention program funded under this
section must be a research-based program in which trained students in grades 9 through 12,
under the supervision of qualified adults, serve as peer mentors for other students, engage
in supportive conversations, identify warning signs of mental health crises, and refer peers
to trusted adults when appropriate. A training program funded under this section must
provide research-based training, in accordance with standards established by the
commissioner, on recognizing the signs of suicide risk, active listening skills, and how to
support peers in connecting with trusted adults. A grant recipient may collaborate with other
school districts, charter schools, contract alternative schools, nonprofit organizations, and
community partners in developing and implementing a peer-to-peer suicide prevention
program or a training program.
new text end