NC S601

State Board of Education shall adopt a school-based mental health policy by December 1, 2019, including a model mental health training program and suicide risk referral protocol.

All public 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, 2020.

School personnel must receive initial mental health training of at least 6 hours within the first 6 months of employment, followed by at least 2 hours of annual training covering youth mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse, sexual abuse prevention, and sex trafficking prevention.

Schools must implement a suicide risk referral protocol for grades 6-12 that includes guidelines for identifying at-risk students and procedures for appropriate referral and action.

School units and their employees are protected from civil liability for school-based mental health plan implementation unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.