NJ S1157

School districts participating in NJSIAA and public colleges/universities must appoint state-licensed or certified student-athlete mental health specialists who hold Mental Health First Aid certification and complete a specialized certification program every two years.

Mental health specialists must conduct three mandatory screenings per season for each student-athlete using research-based tools, with weekly meetings required for injured athletes until cleared by a physician to return to play.

Parents/guardians of K-12 students must provide written informed consent for screenings, while college athletes may submit written waivers; athletes without consent documentation or waivers are prohibited from participating in their sports programs.

The Department of Education and Secretary of Higher Education must establish central registries to collect aggregated, de-identified screening data to analyze mental health trends and develop evidence-based prevention and intervention protocols.

Specialists must develop comprehensive mental health policies addressing symptom recognition for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and other conditions, along with emergency procedures, referral protocols, and transition care for departing athletes.