Bill > H0817

This bill mandates that all supervisory unions and school districts in Vermont select and implement a curriculum to educate students about mental health and substance misuse challenges, covering topics such as the connection between mental and physical health, wellness strategies, recognizing signs and symptoms, prevalence, evidence-based treatments, and how to seek help. The Department of Mental Health will provide guidance on selecting appropriate curricula. Additionally, the bill establishes a four-year pilot program, administered by the Department of Mental Health, to fund peer-to-peer mental health support programs in schools, where students can offer and receive support and coaching from their peers, overseen by certified peer support providers and school mental health professionals. This pilot program aims to define best practices, strengthen protective factors for youth, and prevent future mental health and substance misuse issues, with grant applications opening in early 2027 and priority given to programs with suicide prevention components or those in high-risk areas. School employees involved in these peer support programs will receive specific training, and the Department will report on the program's effectiveness by January 2030.

Education, Health and Social Services

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.817