NJ S1113

New Jersey higher education institutions must implement mental health awareness programs including annual orientation sessions, online screening tools for depression/anxiety/eating disorders/substance abuse, and prominently displayed mental health resources on websites and mobile apps.

Student advisors, resident assistants, and campus security personnel must complete Mental Health First Aid training before starting their duties, and institutions must establish expert panels to develop policies for identifying students with mental health symptoms.

Colleges must establish peer support programs utilizing trained student peers to assist students with mental health conditions, following recovery model best practices and offering both drop-in and scheduled appointments.

Institutions must form partnerships with local mental health providers and work toward a benchmark ratio of one clinical staff member per 1,250 students through a combination of on-campus services, off-campus agreements, and telehealth.

The Secretary of Higher Education must establish a Technical Assistance Center to develop standardized medical leave policies, disseminate best practices, collect statewide mental health data, and monitor institutional compliance.