Heather Pike

Rolling back existing requirements in law for public school staff and personnel to receive ongoing suicide awareness and prevention training, removing required training hours and extending the timeline for subsequent training is a terrible idea. It is essential that school personnel receive this training to support the mental health of youth, because if even one young person’s life is saved, it is worth it. School staff and personnel are confronted with the reality of mental illness and suicide risk for not only young people but for the families of their students, more than most of us, and this training and support is needed now more than ever. Our teen survived. their high school special ed teacher had the training that noone else did, not even the primary care doctor regarding signs of suicide risk. That teacher helped us when no one else would. Maybe saved a life.