741741 Could Be on the Back of Your Student ID Soon

On campus, student ID cards are the key to getting into the library, paying for meals, and scoring student discounts. We believe they can also be the key to getting life-saving support. We’re thrilled to share that this week, U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) and Reps Lou Correa (D-CA) and Chris Stewart (R-UT) introduced legislation to increase access to life-saving mental health resources for college students. The Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act would require colleges and universities to include Crisis Text Line on the back of every student ID. That means 20 million people in the country would carry around a reminder that we’re always there to help when they need it most!

Last fall, we teamed up with our friends at Active Minds to encourage schools to prioritize their students’ mental wellness by putting the information on the back of their ID cards and at the students’ fingertips. This new legislation would speed up this effort in a big way! It’s a big win for us, for you, and for every student in the country. Introducing this legislation means that our leaders are listening and acting to prioritize mental wellness. We know Crisis Text Line saves lives every single day. So do you. Now, so do our elected officials.

More than half of college students say their own mental health is “poor” or “below average.” Unlocking tools for students access the tools to prioritize their mental health could help students learn and thrive to their fullest potential. In order to ensure this bill becomes a reality, we’ll need your help. Over the next few months, we’ll share ways for you to tell Congress why this bill is so important.

Together, we can help every student in the country unlock the tools to prioritize their mental wellness. We can help more people with exam stress, navigating relationship challenges, and balancing hard life transitions. We can remind everyone young person that it’s always okay to ask for help.