North Carolina middle and high school coaches could be required to complete mental health training under proposed legislation backed by the state high school athletic association. Supporters say Senate Bill 550, called the Coaches Care Act, is aimed at helping coaches recognize and respond to student mental health needs before they worsen.
“This is not about asking coaches to become counselors,” said Sen. Caleb Theodros (D-Mecklenburg), a co-sponsor of the bill. “It is about making sure that they’re not left guessing when a student needs help.” The bill requires coaches to complete mental health first aid training to help them recognize symptoms of mental health struggles and connect students to resources.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association voted 17-0 on Wednesday to support the measure. “The unanimous vote to require mental health training for head coaches is a meaningful step forward for the students we serve,” Commissioner Que Tucker said. “The NCHSAA is grateful to be part of an effort that prioritizes the well-being of young people.”
The push for the bill is grounded in data about youth mental health. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for children in North Carolina, and across the country, 1 in 7 youths ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year. April Simpkins, a mental-health advocate and mother of three Division I athletes who lost her daughter Cheslie Kryst to suicide in 2022, stated “It teaches you how to help others. It teaches you how to help yourself.” Advocates from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) North Carolina chapter also showed support for the bill. SB 550 remains in committee and will require Republican support to advance.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.easttexasnews.com/premium/stories/high-school-athletic-association-backs-nc-bill-requiring-mental-health-training-for-coaches,88965