US Code

Public Law 119-102 (07/12/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 290bb–36a

Suicide prevention for youth

Section text and notes

(a)

In general

section 290bb–36 of this titleThe Secretary shall award grants or cooperative agreements to public organizations, private nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, consortia of political subdivisions, consortia of States, or Federally recognized Indian tribes or tribal organizations to design early intervention and prevention strategies that will complement the State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies developed pursuant to .

(b)

Collaboration

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that activities under this section are coordinated with the relevant Department of Health and Human Services agencies and suicide working groups.

(c)

Requirements

A public organization, private nonprofit organization, political subdivision, consortium of political subdivisions, consortium of States, or federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization desiring a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall demonstrate that the suicide prevention program such entity proposes will—
(1)
(A)
section 290bb–36 of this title comply with the State-sponsored statewide early intervention and prevention strategy as developed under ; and
(B)
in the case of a consortium of States, receive the support of all States involved;
(2)
provide for the timely assessment, treatment, or referral for mental health or substance abuse services of youth at risk for suicide;
(3)
be based on suicide prevention practices and strategies that are adapted to the local community;
(4)
integrate its suicide prevention program into the existing health care system in the community including general, mental, and behavioral health services, and substance abuse services;
(5)
be integrated into other systems in the community that address the needs of youth including the school systems, educational institutions, juvenile justice system, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and community child and youth support organizations;
(6)
use primary prevention methods to educate and raise awareness in the local community by disseminating evidence-based information about suicide prevention;
(7)
include suicide prevention, mental health, and related information and services for the families and friends of those who completed suicide, as needed;
(8)
offer access to services and care to youth with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds;
(9)
1
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by “and”.
conduct annual self-evaluations of outcomes and activities, including consulting with interested families and advocacy organizations; 
(10)
ensure that staff used in the program are trained in suicide prevention and that professionals involved in the system of care have received training in identifying persons at risk of suicide.
(d)

Use of funds

Amounts provided under a grant or cooperative agreement under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the activities described in this section. Applicants shall provide financial information to demonstrate compliance with this section.

(e)

Condition

section 290bb–36 of this titleAn applicant for a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall demonstrate to the Secretary that the application complies with the State-sponsored statewide early intervention and prevention strategy as developed under and the applicant has the support of the local community and relevant public health officials.

(f)

Special populations

In awarding grants and cooperative agreements under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that such awards are made in a manner that will focus on the needs of communities or groups that experience high or rapidly rising rates of suicide.

(g)

Application

A public organization, private nonprofit organization, political subdivision, consortium of political subdivisions, consortium of States, or Federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall prepare and submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Such application shall include a plan for the rigorous evaluation of activities funded under the grant or cooperative agreement, including a process and outcome evaluation.

(h)

Distribution of awards

In awarding grants and cooperative agreements under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that such awards are distributed among the geographical regions of the United States and between urban and rural settings.

(i)

Evaluation

A public organization, private nonprofit organization, political subdivision, consortium of political subdivisions, consortium of States, or Federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary at the end of the program period, an evaluation of all activities funded under this section.

(j)

Dissemination and education

The Secretary shall ensure that findings derived from activities carried out under this section are disseminated to State, county and local governmental agencies and public and private nonprofit organizations active in promoting suicide prevention and family support activities.

(k)

Duration of projects

With respect to a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under this section, the period during which payments under such award may be made to the recipient may not exceed 3 years.

(l)

Study

Within 1 year after , the Secretary shall, directly or by grant or contract, initiate a study to assemble and analyze data to identify—
(1)
unique profiles of children under 13 who attempt or complete suicide;
(2)
unique profiles of youths between ages 13 and 24 who attempt or complete suicide; and
(3)
a profile of services available to these groups and the use of these services by children and youths from paragraphs (1) and (2).
(m)

Definitions

section 290bb–36 of this titleIn this section, the terms “early intervention”, “educational institution”, “institution of higher education”, “prevention”, “school”, and “youth” have the meanings given to those terms in .

(n)

Authorization of appropriation

For purposes of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2003.

July 1, 1944, ch. 373 Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXI, § 3111114 Stat. 1186 Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)118 Stat. 1407 (, title V, § 520E–1, formerly § 520E, as added , , ; renumbered § 520E–1 and amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 290bb–36 of this titlePub. L. 108–355Section was formerly classified to prior to renumbering by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(A)2004—, substituted “youth” for “children and adolescents” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(B)Subsec. (a). , added subsec. (a) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (a). Text read as follows: “The Secretary shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, public organizations, or private nonprofit organizations to establish programs to reduce suicide deaths in the United States among children and adolescents.”

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(C)Subsec. (b). , substituted “with the relevant Department of Health and Human Services agencies and suicide working groups.” for “among the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the relevant institutes at the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Administration on Children and Families.”

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(i)Subsec. (c). , substituted “A public organization, private nonprofit organization, political subdivision, consortium of political subdivisions, consortium of States, or federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization desiring” for “A State, political subdivision of a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, public organization, or private nonprofit organization desiring” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(iii)Subsec. (c)(1). , added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii)Subsec. (c)(2). , (iv), redesignated par. (1) as (2) and substituted “youth” for “children and adolescents”. Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii)Subsec. (c)(3). , (v), redesignated par. (2) as (3) and struck out “best evidence-based,” after “based on”. Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii)Subsec. (c)(4). , (vi), redesignated par. (3) as (4) and substituted “general, mental, and behavioral health services, and substance abuse services;” for “primary health care, mental health services, and substance abuse services;”. Former par. (4) redesignated (5).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii)Subsec. (c)(5). , (vii), redesignated par. (4) as (5) and substituted “youth including the school systems, educational institutions, juvenile justice system, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and community child and youth support organizations;” for “children and adolescents including the educational system, juvenile justice system, welfare and child protection systems, and community youth support organizations;”. Former par. (5) redesignated (6).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii)Subsec. (c)(6), (7). , redesignated pars. (5) and (6) as (6) and (7), respectively. Former par. (7) redesignated (8).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(viii)Subsec. (c)(8). , added par. (8) and struck out former par. (8) which read as follows: “provide linguistically appropriate and culturally competent services, as needed;”.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii), redesignated par. (7) as (8). Former par. (8) redesignated (9).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ix)Subsec. (c)(9). , added par. (9) and struck out former par. (9) which read as follows: “provide a plan for the evaluation of outcomes and activities at the local level, according to standards established by the Secretary, and agree to participate in a national evaluation; and”.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii), redesignated par. (8) as (9). Former par. (9) redesignated (10).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(D)(ii)Subsec. (c)(10). , redesignated par. (9) as (10).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(E)Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (d). Text read as follows: “Amounts provided under grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under subsection (a) of this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local public funds that are expended to provide services for eligible individuals.”

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(F)section 290bb–36 of this titleSubsec. (e). , struck out “, contract,” after “grant” and inserted “application complies with the State-sponsored statewide early intervention and prevention strategy as developed under and the” after “Secretary that the”.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(G)Subsec. (f). , struck out “, contracts,” after “grants”.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(H)Subsec. (g). , substituted “A public organization, private nonprofit organization, political subdivision, consortium of political subdivisions, consortium of States, or Federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving” for “A State, political subdivision of a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, public organization, or private nonprofit organization receiving” and struck out “, contract,” after “grant” in two places.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(I)Subsec. (h). , struck out “, contracts,” after “grants”.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(J)Subsec. (i). , substituted “A public organization, private nonprofit organization, political subdivision, consortium of political subdivisions, consortium of States, or Federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving” for “A State, political subdivision of a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, public organization, or private nonprofit organization receiving” and struck out “, contract,” after “grant”.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(K)Subsec. (k). , substituted “3 years” for “5 years”.

lPub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(L)(i)Subsec. ()(2). , substituted “24” for “21”.

lPub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(L)(ii)Subsec. ()(3). , struck out “which might have been” after “profile of services”.

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(O)Subsec. (m). , added subsec. (m). Former subsec. (m) redesignated (n).

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(M), struck out par. (1) designation and heading and struck out heading and text of par. (2). Text read as follows: “In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall use 1 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year for managing programs under this section.”

Pub. L. 108–355, § 3(b)(1)(N)Subsec. (n). , redesignated subsec. (m) as (n).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Teen Suicide Prevention Study

Pub. L. 106–386, div. B, title VI, § 1602114 Stat. 1538

“(a)

Short Title .—

This section may be cited as the ‘Teen Suicide Prevention Act of 2000’.
“(b)

Findings .—

Congress finds that—
“(1)
measures that increase public awareness of suicide as a preventable public health problem, and target parents and youth so that suicide risks and warning signs can be recognized, will help to eliminate the ignorance and stigma of suicide as barriers to youth and families seeking preventive care;
“(2)
suicide prevention efforts in the year 2000 should—
“(A)
target at-risk youth, particularly youth with mental health problems, substance abuse problems, or contact with the juvenile justice system;
“(B)
involve—
“(i)
the identification of the characteristics of the at-risk youth and other youth who are contemplating suicide, and barriers to treatment of the youth; and
“(ii)
the development of model treatment programs for the youth;
“(C)
include a pilot study of the outcomes of treatment for juvenile delinquents with mental health or substance abuse problems;
“(D)
include a public education approach to combat the negative effects of the stigma of, and discrimination against individuals with, mental health and substance abuse problems; and
“(E)
include a nationwide effort to develop, implement, and evaluate a mental health awareness program for schools, communities, and families;
“(3)
although numerous symptoms, diagnoses, traits, characteristics, and psychosocial stressors of suicide have been investigated, no single factor or set of factors has ever come close to predicting suicide with accuracy;
“(4)
research of United States youth, such as a 1994 study by Lewinsohn, Rohde, and Seeley, has shown predictors of suicide, such as a history of suicide attempts, current suicidal ideation and depression, a recent attempt or completed suicide by a friend, and low self-esteem; and
“(5)
epidemiological data illustrate—
“(A)
the trend of suicide at younger ages as well as increases in suicidal ideation among youth in the United States; and
“(B)
distinct differences in approaches to suicide by gender, with—
“(i)
3 to 5 times as many females as males attempting suicide; and
“(ii)
3 to 5 times as many males as females completing suicide.
“(c)

Purpose .—

The purpose of this section is to provide for a study of predictors of suicide among at-risk and other youth, and barriers that prevent the youth from receiving treatment, to facilitate the development of model treatment programs and public education and awareness efforts.
“(d)

Study .—

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry out, directly or by grant or contract, a study that is designed to identify—
“(1)
the characteristics of at-risk and other youth age 13 through 21 who are contemplating suicide;
“(2)
the characteristics of at-risk and other youth who are younger than age 13 and are contemplating suicide; and
“(3)
the barriers that prevent youth described in paragraphs (1) and (2) from receiving treatment.
“(e)

Authorization of Appropriations .—

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.”
, , , provided that:

section 1602 of Pub. L. 106–386section 1002 of Pub. L. 106–386section 10447 of Title 34[For definition of “youth” as used in , set out above, see , set out as a note under , Crime Control and Law Enforcement.]