To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out demonstration programs to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based strategies to prevent suicide among children and adolescents, and for other purposes.

Bill overview

HR 8989, introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out demonstration programs aimed at preventing suicide among children and adolescents. The bill emphasizes developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based strategies, with a broader scope potentially covering related activities under “and for other purposes.”

Primary purpose and intent

• Establish demonstration programs within the Public Health Service Act to prevent suicide among individuals under 18.
• Require the development, implementation, and formal evaluation of evidence-based suicide prevention strategies targeting children and adolescents.
• Provide a framework for testing and assessing approaches that could be scaled or replicated if proven effective.

Key provisions and changes (as anticipated by the bill’s title and usual Public Health Service Act structure)

• Authorization for HHS to establish demonstration programs focused on suicide prevention for youth.
• Requirements to design programs using evidence-based practices, with emphasis on measurable outcomes and rigorous evaluation.
• Procedures for implementing pilot initiatives, including selection criteria for sites, communities, or institutions participating in demonstrations.
• Evaluation component to assess effectiveness, feasibility, cost, and potential for broader adoption.
• Reporting and accountability measures to track progress and disseminate results.
• Potential collaboration with federal agencies, states, tribes, non-profits, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations to implement and evaluate programs.
• Any amendments to the Public Health Service Act necessary to authorize funding, administration, or governance of the demonstration programs.
• Provisions for funding mechanisms, duration of demonstration projects, and potential pathways to scale successful strategies if demonstrated effective.

Note: The public text provided does not include the full statutory text, so the summary focuses on the bill’s stated aim and typical features of such authorization provisions.

Who would be affected

• Children and adolescents, particularly those at risk of suicide or in communities with elevated risk factors.
• Families and caregivers of young people.
• State and local health departments, school systems, and community-based organizations involved in youth mental health and suicide prevention.
• Healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and social service agencies participating in demonstration projects.
• Federal program administrators within HHS responsible for implementing and evaluating the programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 21, 2026.
• Committee action would determine whether to advance the bill, report it to the full House, or consider amendments.
• If enacted, implementation would follow HHS rulemaking and program design processes, with timelines tied to funding appropriations and demonstration project schedules.
• Evaluation and reporting requirements would likely specify interim and final reports to Congress and guidelines for dissemination of results.

Potential impact and considerations

• Aims to reduce youth suicide through targeted, evidence-based interventions and scalable strategies.
• Could spur coordinated federal, state, and community efforts in youth mental health and suicide prevention.
• Requires rigor in evaluation to identify effective practices and inform broader policy adoption.
• Funding level, eligibility criteria, and implementation details will shape the real-world reach and effectiveness of the programs.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to include any available fiscal notes, estimated funding ranges, or expected collaboration partners once the bill’s full text or associated summaries are released.