Bill Overview
Title: Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of Education to establish a program to award grants to eligible entities (e.g., local educational agencies) for facilitating peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs for middle and high school students.
Sponsors: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Target Audience
Population: Middle and high school students worldwide
Estimated Size: 25000000
- The program aims at middle and high school students, potentially reaching all middle and high school students if implemented nationwide.
- There are approximately 50 million students in public schools in the United States, with about 25 million being middle and high school students.
- Peer-to-peer programs typically recruit and train a portion of the student body - possible impact includes both those directly participating in the program, and those benefiting from the prevention activities.
Reasoning
- The budget allows for broad implementation but not complete coverage of all students, so some variation in impact across different regions and schools is expected.
- The target group is middle and high school students, but impacts will also include teachers, school counselors, and parents indirectly.
- Long-term wellbeing depends on implementation fidelity, cultural contexts, and supplementary support measures available in schools.
- Programs like these generally show medium to high subjective wellbeing improvements in participating students and low-to-medium in those peripherally affected.
Simulated Interviews
Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think peer support can really help since students often feel more comfortable talking to each other.
- Hopefully, the program continues long enough to make a difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Dallas, TX)
Age: 14 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I guess talking with peers who went through the same things could help.
- I’m worried it’ll be hard for people to open up at first.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Programs like these are awesome, we need more mental health awareness among students.
- Peer leaders should be well-prepared to handle sensitive issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 15 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A peer network could provide a safer outlet for dealing with some personal issues.
- It’s important that the program considers diverse needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 17 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having friends around might help people see early signs of struggle in others.
- I hope trained peer supporters won't feel overwhelmed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Peers might notice struggles among each other faster than adults.
- The program needs to reach rural areas too, not just big cities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 14 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’d join if it means helping my friends more.
- I wonder how schools will choose who gets to be peer supporters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Student (Hartford, CT)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve been advocating for mental health initiatives; glad the school is not waiting any longer.
- It’d be ideal if we could connect with mental health professionals too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 14 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic that it will help me and others who feel like they’re struggling alone.
- I would appreciate online meetings, too, for more privacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This seems like an extension of what I've been doing; it's rewarding to help peers.
- Schools need to ensure confidentiality and respect in these peer programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $85000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $95000000)
Year 2: $85000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $95000000)
Year 3: $85000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $95000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Effectiveness of peer-to-peer programs in reducing youth suicide rates and improving mental health.
- Administrative challenges in program implementation across diverse educational settings.
- Measurement and evaluation of program success and impacts.