West Virginia § 18B-1B-7 Student mental health policies; suicide prevention

West Virginia Statutes

§ 18B-1B-7 — Student mental health policies; suicide prevention

West Virginia § 18B-1B-7

Ch. 18BHIGHER EDUCATION

Art. 1BHIGHER EDUCATION POLICY COMMISSION

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Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 18B-1B-7 (2026).

Text

(a)Each public and private institution of higher education shall develop and implement a policy to advise students and staff on suicide prevention programs available on and off campus that includes, but is not limited to:

(1)Crisis intervention access, which includes information for suicide prevention hotlines;

(2)Mental health program access, which provides information on the availability of local mental health clinics, student health services and counseling services;

(3)Multimedia application access, which includes crisis hotline contact information, suicide warning signs, resources offered and free-of-cost applications;

(4)Student communication plans, which consist of creating outreach plans regarding educational and outreach activities on suicide prevention; and

(5)Post-inte

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(a) Each public and private institution of higher education shall develop and implement a policy to advise students and staff on suicide prevention programs available on and off campus that includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Crisis intervention access, which includes information for suicide prevention hotlines;

(2) Mental health program access, which provides information on the availability of local mental health clinics, student health services and counseling services;

(3) Multimedia application access, which includes crisis hotline contact information, suicide warning signs, resources offered and free-of-cost applications;

(4) Student communication plans, which consist of creating outreach plans regarding educational and outreach activities on suicide prevention; and

(5) Post-intervention plans which include creating a strategic plan to communicate effectively with students, staff, and parents after the loss of a student to suicide.

(b) Each public and private institution of higher education shall provide all incoming students with information about depression and suicide prevention resources available to students. The information provided to students shall include available mental health services and other support services, including student-run organizations for individuals at risk of or affected by suicide.

(c) The information prescribed by subsection (a), subdivisions (1) through (4) of this section shall be posted on the website of each institution of higher education in this state.

(d) Any applicable free-of-cost prevention materials or programs shall be posted on the websites of the public and private institutions of higher education, the Higher Education Policy Commission, and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

(e) Commencing one year from the date of reenactment of this section by the 2023 regular session of the Legislature, a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the information described in both subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection:

(1) The information for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which can be reached by calling or texting 988;

(2) The information for the Crisis Text Line. accessible by texting HOME to 741741.