Senate Bill 255 Summary

• Requires school corporations to include mental health wellness education in their health education curriculum, covering topics such as anxiety disorders, hyperactivity disorders, eating disorders, self-mutilation, depression, schizophrenia, and causes and prevention of mental illness without stigma.

• Defines "mental health wellness education" to include information about the stigma associated with mental illness, resources for mental health support, the importance of positive mental health, and understanding of mental health conditions.

• Allows school corporation governing bodies to provide mental health screenings to students only if they receive written consent from the student's parent or guardian.

• Requires the Indiana Department of Education to provide school corporations with resources regarding mental health wellness upon request.

• Effective date: July 1, 2018.