North Charlotte Today

Senator Thom Tillis recently introduced the CARE for Student Mental Health Act, a bill aimed at improving schools' access to mental health grants. Senator Tillis emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “This legislation helps provide mental health professionals to the communities that need them the most.”

The bill comes in response to the concerning statistics that "One in five children have a diagnosable mental or behavioral health disorder, and approximately 40% of students will experience symptoms of depression or anxiety by the seventh grade." Despite these numbers, many school districts lack access to essential mental health providers.

The CARE for Student Mental Health Act aims to bridge this gap by clarifying grant purposes, improving notification and technical assistance for potential grantees, and streamlining programs to increase the number of properly trained school-based mental health professionals. The bill is endorsed by a wide range of organizations, including the School Superintendents Association and the American Psychological Association.

Senator Tillis, who co-chairs the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, founded in 2023, is dedicated to promoting bipartisan solutions and raising awareness of mental health issues. The CARE for Student Mental Health Act builds on previous legislation, such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to ensure that students have access to the necessary mental health resources and support services they need to thrive in school.