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HB 591

Mental Health First Aid Training; require for certain public school personnel and school resource officers.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Creekmore and 1 co-sponsor

Mississippi bill requiring public school staff and resource officers to complete Mental Health First Aid training to improve crisis recognition and early intervention capacity in schools.

Died In Committee
#education
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Bill Summary · HB 591

Legislative bill overview

HB 591 would mandate Mental Health First Aid training for specific public school personnel and school resource officers in Mississippi. The bill establishes a requirement for designated school staff to complete this evidence-based training program, which teaches individuals how to recognize and respond to mental health crises in others.

Why is this important

Mental health challenges among youth have increased significantly, and early intervention by trained personnel can prevent escalation of crises and improve outcomes. School staff are often the first adults to notice warning signs in students, making their training directly relevant to student safety and wellbeing.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Funding for training programs, certification, and instructor availability across all Mississippi school districts could strain already limited education budgets
  • Scope and specificity: Unclear which exact personnel would be required (teachers, counselors, administrators, all staff?) and whether one-time training or ongoing recertification would be mandated
  • Liability concerns: Schools may worry about legal responsibility if trained personnel fail to recognize crisis situations or if interventions have unintended consequences
  • Resource allocation: Questions about whether mandatory training diverts resources from other student mental health initiatives like hiring additional counselors or therapists

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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