2020 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 24 - EDUCATION
Chapter 71 - Suicide Prevention in Institutions of Higher Education
Section 7103 - Student mental health and suicide prevention plans
(a) Plan required and minimum required contents.--Each institution of higher education may develop and implement a plan to advise students and staff on mental health and suicide prevention programs available both on campus and off campus. The mental health and suicide prevention plan should, at a minimum, include:
(1) Contact information for national, State and local suicide prevention hotlines.
(2) Crisis intervention services, which shall include providing the address, telephone number or any other contact information of individuals with training and experience in mental health issues who focus on suicide prevention. An institution of higher education shall make individuals with training and experience available on campus or remotely for students 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
(3) Mental health services and access, which shall include providing the necessary information to access mental health services, including, but not limited to, health promotion and wellness, student health and counseling, crisis services, local mental health providers and mental health clinics.
(4) Multimedia access, which shall include mental health and suicide warning signs, services available to individuals at no cost and available mental health and suicide prevention resources, which may include mobile applications.
(5) Student communication plans, which shall consist of outreach plans regarding, at a minimum, mental health services and suicide prevention.
(6) Postintervention plans, which shall include a process to create a strategic plan to communicate effectively with students, staff and parents after the loss of a student to suicide.
(b) Public posting.--If an institution of higher education adopts a plan under subsection (a), the institution of higher education shall post on the institution's publicly accessible Internet website the following:
(1) The mental health and suicide prevention plan adopted by the institution of higher education.
(2) Applicable free prevention materials or programs.
(c) Information for students.--If an institution of higher education adopts a plan under subsection (a), the following shall apply:
(1) The institution of higher education shall provide all incoming students with the information required under subsection (a)(1) and (2).
(2) No less than twice a calendar year, the institution of higher education shall transmit to each student by mail or e-mail the information under subsection (a)(1) and (2).
(d) Review and update.--If an institution of higher education adopts a plan under subsection (a), the institution of higher education shall review and update the plan at least once annually.
Cross References. Section 7103 is referred to in section 7104 of this title.
