April 13, 2022

The Hope Center is proud to join nearly 100 organizations representing institutions of higher education, students and young people, mental health professionals, researchers, and advocates, calling on Congress to support and prioritize the mental and behavioral health needs of the nearly 20 million students in higher education in any broader mental health package.

Better mental health is essential for students to persist in college, graduate, and become healthy and productive leaders and workers in our communities nationwide. To meet this moment, our coalition calls on Congress to invest in existing mental health programs and reexamine ways that key legislation can support the mental health and basic needs of America’s college students.

In particular, our coalition encourages leaders of the Senate HELP, Senate Finance, House Education & Labor, and House Energy & Commerce committees to update the Public Health Service Act and the Higher Education Act to support holistic and evidence-based practices that meet students’ mental health needs. Our recommendations include substantially increasing investments in existing mental health programs, prioritizing support for under-resourced institutions including community colleges, MSIs, and institutions participating in the Strengthening Institutions Program, and ensuring resources reach LGBTQ+ students, students of color, parenting students, military-connected, first-generation, low-income students, and more.

View our coalition letter here.