Senator Samra Brouk Celebrates the Student Lifeline Act Becoming Law and recognizes members of the second Youth Mental Health Advisory Board

Senator Samra Brouk (SD-55) is proud to announce that the Student Lifeline Act has been enacted into law today. Senator Brouk introduced and sponsored the Student Lifeline Act (S1865B/ A6563-A) with Assemblymember Sarah Clark (AD-136) in 2021, when she recognized the profound effects of mental health on college students. requires colleges and universities in New York State to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number on student ID cards to provide a direct connect to culturally competent care. The Student Lifeline Act was formed as a direct response to student feedback and centered youth voices in the mental health conversation. Since the launch of the hotline in New York in July 2022, the state’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has fielded 1.4 million calls, texts and chats.

To celebrate the power of youth voices, Senator Samra G. Brouk (SD-55) hosted her second Youth Mental Health Advisory Board (YMHAB) Award Ceremony last night. This event recognized the advocacy of local students in the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, consisting of 28 students from 15 high schools in Monroe County.

Advisory Board members have convened in meetings since November to discuss mental health issues that impact their lives– helping shape and inform real policy as it pertains to young people. After learning the legislative process, working with their peers on their proposals, and researching the mental health topics of their choosing, they presented their ideas to Senator Brouk for potential new legislation that could benefit young people across the state.

Proposals from students included: increasing access to school psychologists; providing mental health check-ins with high school athletes; increasing funding for expanded school based mental health programs; and educating teachers on identifying signs of mental health issues. In the next legislative session, Senator Brouk’s team will examine these proposals to consider how these suggestions can be integrated into legislation that will directly impact our community. Senator Brouk will be accepting applications for her third cohort of Youth Mental Health Advisory Board members in Fall 2025. 

Senator Samra G. Brouk (SD-55): “As the Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, I am committed to finding new ways for young people to actively participate in creating solutions to address mental health. By listening to students, we introduced and passed the Student Lifeline Act, which puts compassionate care at the fingertips of college students by including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number on student IDs. Through the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, high school students from Monroe County were invited to share their lived experiences, conduct research, and present proposals to inform mental health legislation. I am grateful for the investments and advocacy of students in my community and the Advisory Board– the voices of our young people must be centered in the mental health conversation to enact positive change in our city and state.”