Investing in Teen Mental Health.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1159

Short Title: Investing in Teen Mental Health. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Lofton, Lambeth, White, and Crawford (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 4, 2026
*H1159-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 2
SERVICES, DIVISION O F CHILD AND FAMILY W ELL-BEING, TO EXPAND 3
ACCESS TO TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING AND YOUTH MENTAL 4
HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING. 5
Whereas, ten percent (10%) of North Carolina's high school students reported having 6
attempted suicide in the last year and twenty-two percent (22%) of these same students reported 7
having seriously contemplated suicide; and 8
Whereas, 1 in 5 teens in the United States wil l likely experience a mental health 9
challenge by the age of 18 and sixty -four percent (64%) of these teens are unlikely to seek 10
professional help; and 11
Whereas, Teen Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence -based course 12
developed to teach teens who are in grades nine through twelve, or ages 14 through 18, how to 13
identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among 14
their friends and peers; and 15
Whereas, the Teen MHFA curriculum covers common signs and symptoms of mental 16
health and substance use challenges in this age group and how to connect teens with trusted and 17
responsible adults for support and assistance during a mental health or substance use crisis; and 18
Whereas, The University of North Carolina has trained a total of 7,527 individuals in 19
Youth and Teen MHFA in 44 counties across NC and established a cohort of 212 Youth and/or 20
Teen MHFA instructors since 2023; and 21
Whereas, completion of the Teen MHFA course has shown a fifty percent (50%) 22
increase in the willi ngness of teens to tell someone and seek help from an adult or health care 23
professional about mental health and substance use challenges; Now, therefore, 24
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 25
SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 26
Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Well -Being, the sum of one million 27
two hundred ninety thousand six hundred twenty-six dollars ($1,290,626) in nonrecurring funds 28
for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to be used to expand access to Teen Mental Health First Aid training 29
and Youth Mental Health First Aid training in North Carolina. 30
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2026. 31