Sponsors (2)
The bill establishes a department-wide mental health and suicide-prevention program for DHS law enforcement that can improve care and protect employees seeking help, but its real-world impact depends on reliable funding, sufficient uptake by officers, and strong safeguards for sensitive data.
DHS law-enforcement personnel and federal employees will gain a department-wide mental health and suicide-prevention program that provides training, peer support, and dedicated resources.
Law-enforcement and other DHS employees who seek counseling will be protected from adverse action and afforded confidentiality, reducing fear of career harm when getting help.
DHS officers' families and surviving family members will have access to suicide-prevention and resiliency support programs to help cope with and prevent family harms.
DHS law-enforcement and federal employees could face underfunded or inconsistent services because program staffing and ongoing peer-support training depend on future appropriations.
Collecting detailed mental health and suicide data could risk privacy breaches that harm employees if sensitive disclosures occur despite protections.
Law-enforcement officers who avoid voluntary services because of stigma or distrust may not participate, limiting the program's reach and overall effectiveness.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a DHS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program to coordinate suicide prevention, peer support, training, data collection, and family support.
Introduced August 1, 2025 by Gary C. Peters · Last progress August 1, 2025
Creates a department-wide program to support the mental health, resiliency, and suicide prevention of DHS law enforcement personnel. It puts the Office of the Chief Medical Officer in charge of a Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program that will set policies, collect confidential data, provide training and outreach, maintain peer-support programs, protect confidentiality, support families, and require department components to adopt and improve mental health and training practices. The law requires the Chief Medical Officer to issue a directive within 180 days, appoint a Workplace Health and Wellness Coordinator to run the program, form a Peer-to-Peer Support Program Advisory Council, track and forward suicide data, and brief Congress within 180 days and annually through FY2027. Participation by employees is voluntary and funding for peer support training is subject to appropriations.