Expand Access to Teen Mental Health First Aid.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Amber Baker and 30 co-sponsors

One-time $1,873,863 to DHHS to expand Teen Mental Health First Aid training in NC high schools (grades 9–12), effective July 1, 2025.

Passed 1st Reading

#appropriations;budgeting;dhhs;emergencymedicalservices;emergencyservices;healthservices;mentalhealth;minors;public

Purpose and intent

HB 766 provides one-time state funding to expand access to Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training across North Carolina. The bill responds to concerning youth mental‑health and suicide indicators and aims to equip high‑school‑age peers with the skills to identify, understand, and appropriately respond to signs of mental health and substance‑use challenges in their classmates.

Key provisions

Appropriation: $1,873,863 in nonrecurring General Fund dollars is appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Child and Family Well‑Being, for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.

Purpose of funds: Expand access to the evidence‑based teen Mental Health First Aid curriculum for students in grades 9–12 (typically ages 14–18). The statutory text situates program administration within DHHS, Division of Child and Family Well‑Being.

Program description (from bill language): tMHFA trains teens to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance‑use challenges and to connect peers with trusted adults or professionals during crises.

Effective date: The Act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Rationale and evidence cited

The bill cites state and national data to justify the investment:
- Ten percent (10%) of North Carolina high‑school students reported attempting suicide in the past year; 22% reported seriously contemplating suicide.
- One in five U.S. teens will likely experience a mental‑health challenge by age 18, and 64% of those teens are unlikely to seek professional help.
- Local experience: The University of North Carolina has trained 1,519 teens across ten counties and developed a cohort of 68 tMHFA instructors; course completion is associated with a reported 50% increase in teens’ willingness to tell someone or seek help.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: High school students (grades 9–12) statewide — increased opportunities to receive tMHFA training.

Implementing entity: DHHS, Division of Child and Family Well‑Being, which will manage fund distribution and program expansion.

Secondary: School systems, local mental‑health providers, and community agencies that may host or support training and follow‑up services.

Fiscal and implementation notes

Fiscal impact: One‑time appropriation of $1,873,863 (nonrecurring) for FY 2025–26. No ongoing state funding is provided in the bill.

Implementation details (allocation method, county/LEA prioritization, instructor recruitment, or evaluation/reporting requirements) are not specified in the statute text and would be determined by DHHS program development or subsequent administrative guidance.

Because funds are nonrecurring, sustained program expansion or maintenance beyond FY 2025–26 would require additional appropriations or alternate funding sources.

Potential impacts and considerations

Expected short‑term outcome: Increase in the number of trained teens and tMHFA instructors, and increased peer help‑seeking behavior per cited evidence.

Limitations: No mandated metrics or reporting in the bill; long‑term sustainability is uncertain without recurring funds. Success will depend on DHHS implementation strategy and coordination with school districts and community partners.

Bill