Jessica Lyons

Written Testimony in Opposition to HB 1635 (2026) House Education Policy and Administration Committee Date: January 21, 2026 Dear Chair and Members of the Committee, I am writing to respectfully urge you to oppose HB 1635, which proposes changes to RSA 193-J:2, New Hampshire’s school-based suicide prevention training requirements. I submit this testimony from the perspective of a licensed mental health clinician and educator with over twenty years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. I am the Co-Founder of Aloft Integrated Wellness, a New Hampshire–based outpatient mental health practice; the Co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Helios Behavioral Health, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to evidence-based behavioral health care in medical and community settings; and I have previously served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Hampshire for more than ten years, teaching and training future mental health professionals. My comments reflect both direct clinical experience and long-standing involvement in workforce training and youth mental health education. As currently written, RSA 193-J:2 provides clear, consistent, and evidence-informed expectations for suicide prevention training among school personnel. These requirements ensure that adults working with children are adequately prepared to recognize warning signs, respond appropriately, and connect students to help. HB 1635 would weaken these protections by removing mandatory training hours and allowing schools to rely on self-training materials at their discretion. This change is deeply concerning given the realities facing New Hampshire’s youth. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24 in our state. Suicide is preventable. Decades of research and clinical practice show that early identification, education, and timely intervention save lives. Because students spend much of their time in school, educators and school staff are often the first to notice concerning changes in behavior, mood, or functioning. Effective suicide prevention training is not simply about access to information—it requires structured, standardized, and interactive learning that builds competence and confidence. Removing minimum training requirements and permitting self-directed training risks creating significant variability in quality, depth, and accountability across districts. This inconsistency undermines the intent of RSA 193-J and places vulnerable students at greater risk. While flexibility for schools is important, it should not come at the expense of student safety or proven prevention strategies. Strong statewide standards promote equity, support school personnel, and help ensure that all New Hampshire students—regardless of district—benefit from meaningful suicide prevention efforts. For these reasons, I respectfully ask you to reject HB 1635 and preserve the strength and integrity of RSA 193-J:2. Our children deserve strong, consistent, and evidence-based suicide prevention measures in every school. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully submitted, Jessica Lyons, LMFT Co-Founder, Aloft Integrated Wellness Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer, Helios Behavioral Health Adjunct Professor, University of New Hampshire 2011-2022