Shamera Simpson

As the Vice Chair representative of the New Hampshire Suicide Prevention Council and the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, I am offering testimony in opposition of SB1635. According to the 2024 NH Suicide Prevention Council's Annual Report, Suicide is the leading cause of death in New Hampshire for youth ages 10 to 14 and the second leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 24. Too many young lives are being lost, and suicide can be prevented. We need our licensed educators to learn and become more knowledgeable about suicide prevention. We also need school policies in place that support those educators in responding when a student is in crisis or in the unfortunate event of a completed suicide in the school community. School personnel and others who have regular contact with youth can prevent youth suicides by learning to recognize the signs of someone at risk, taking those signs seriously, and knowing how to respond to them. When the adults that work with young people know what to look for (are trained in suicide warning signs) and when schools have a plan of action (policies and procedures) in place, we increase the chances that a young person at risk will be referred to a mental health professional, we increase the chances that the suicide attempt can be prevented, and we possibly save a young life. HB 1635, as currently written, ensures that school personnel are trained to recognize warning signs and respond effectively, creating safer environments for students. Any changes to this existing law would weaken these protections and put young people at greater risk. I appreciate your consideration of my testimony. If you have any questions at all, I can be reached at ssimpson@afsp.org. Thank you to our legislators for your continued support of suicide prevention in New Hampshire.