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HB 1399

Peer Helpers PLUS Act; create to provide counseling, education and mental health intervention in public schools.

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

Mississippi would create peer counselor programs in public schools to supplement mental health services, training students to provide support and intervention to classmates under professional supervision.

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Bill Summary · HB 1399

Legislative bill overview

HB 1399, the Peer Helpers PLUS Act, would establish a program in Mississippi public schools to train and deploy student peer counselors who provide mental health support, education, and intervention services to their classmates. The bill creates a structured framework for identifying, training, and supervising these student helpers under professional oversight.

Why is this important

Mississippi faces significant mental health challenges among youth, with limited school counselor-to-student ratios in many districts. Peer support programs can provide accessible, culturally relatable mental health resources and early intervention, potentially reducing crisis situations and addressing the gap between student need and available professional services.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability and training standards: Questions about whether student peer counselors have adequate training to handle sensitive mental health situations and who bears liability if situations escalate or are mishandled
  • Professional vs. peer distinction: Concerns that peer counseling might substitute for—rather than supplement—professional school counselors, psychologists, and social workers
  • Student confidentiality and boundaries: Challenges in maintaining appropriate privacy when peers are providing counseling, and potential social complications of students counseling their classmates
  • Implementation costs: Funding requirements for training programs, supervision, materials, and potential expansion across the state's districts
  • Equity of access: Uncertainty whether all schools would implement the program equally, potentially creating disparities in mental health support availability

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

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