View all text of Subpart 3 [§ 290bb-31 - § 290cc-13]
§ 290bb–36c. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program
(a) In general
(b) ActivitiesIn maintaining the program, the activities of the Secretary shall include—
(1) supporting and coordinating a network of crisis centers across the United States for providing suicide prevention and mental health crisis intervention services, including appropriate follow-up services, to individuals seeking help at any time, day or night;
(2) maintaining a suicide prevention hotline to link callers to local emergency, mental health, and social services resources;
(3) consulting with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that veterans calling the suicide prevention hotline have access to a specialized veterans’ suicide prevention hotline;
(4) improving awareness of the program for suicide prevention and mental health crisis intervention services, including by conducting an awareness initiative and ongoing outreach to the public; and
(5) improving the collection and analysis of demographic information, in a manner that protects personal privacy, consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws, in order to understand disparities in access to the program among individuals who are seeking help.
(c) Plan
(1) In general
(2) ContentsThe plan required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) Program evaluation, including performance measures to assess progress toward the goals and objectives of the program and to improve the responsiveness and performance of the hotline, including at all backup call centers.
(B) Requirements that crisis centers and backup centers must meet—
(i) to participate in the network under subsection (b)(1); and
(ii) to ensure that each telephone call and applicable other communication received by the hotline, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner, consistent with evidence-based guidance or other guidance or best practices, as appropriate.
(C) Specific recommendations and strategies for implementing evidence-based practices, including with respect to followup and communicating the availability of resources in the community for individuals in need.
(D) Criteria for carrying out periodic testing of the hotline during each fiscal year, including at crisis centers and backup centers, to identify and address any problems in a timely manner.
(3) Consultation
(4) Initial plan; updatesThe Secretary shall—
(A) not later than 1 year after December 29, 2022, complete development of the initial plan under paragraph (1) and make such plan publicly available; and
(B) periodically thereafter, update such plan and make the updated plan publicly available.
(d) Improving epidemiological data
(e) Data to assist State and local suicide prevention activities
(f) Authorization of appropriations
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 520E–3, as added Pub. L. 114–255, div. B, title IX, § 9005, Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1239; amended Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title I, § 1103(a), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5637.)