Suicide Prevention Assistance Act

This bill, the Suicide Prevention Assistance Act, would set up a small federal grant program to help primary care offices prevent self-harm and suicide. The Department of Health and Human Services would award grants and create screening standards within 6 months of the law taking effect . Clinics that get a grant would hire clinical social workers. Doctors would screen patients for self-harm or suicide risk, social workers would offer short-term help, and they would refer patients to other care for longer-term support.

Key points

• Who is affected: Primary care offices, their patients, and clinical social workers.
• How it works: Up to 10 grants total, with no more than one per state and one per office; each grant can be up to $500,000 and lasts 2 years, with possible renewal.
• Standards: HHS must set screening standards within 180 days, after consulting with expert groups.
• Reporting: Clinics report quarterly on screenings, short-term services, and referrals; HHS reports on the program every two years and shares results within the department, including with CDC and NIMH.