NC S476

State Board of Education must adopt a school-based mental health policy by December 1, 2020, including a model mental health training program and suicide risk referral protocol.

All K-12 school units (local administrative units, charter schools, regional schools, innovative schools, and laboratory schools) must adopt and implement a school-based mental health plan by July 1, 2021.

School personnel must receive an initial mental health training of at least six hours within the first six months of employment, covering youth mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse, sexual abuse prevention, sex trafficking prevention, and teenage dating violence.

School personnel in grades 6-12 must receive training on suicide risk referral protocols that include guidelines for identifying at-risk students and procedures for referral and follow-up actions.

School units are protected from civil liability for implementation of mental health plans and trainings unless the act constitutes gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing; the law does not impose a duty to provide actual mental health services.