Melissa Hanlon

I am writing to oppose HB1635. This bill makes unnecessary and harmful changes to RSA 193-J:2, II. Suicide is a leading cause of death in adolescents in the US and in NH. Under RSA 193-J:2, II, NH teachers and school staff have been receiving valuable, evidence-based training on how to recognize the signs of suicide and step in to potentially help a student in crisis. This training takes only 2 hours per year, but is potentially life saving. Rather than gut this requirement, we should be looking to make sure more trusted adults that interact with adolescents receive it! The training is offered for free throughout the state by Connor's Climb Foundation, so it costs school districts nothing to comply with the law.