What's happening
This bill requires the development and distribution of suicide prevention educational materials for schools and allows their optional use in health education.
Why it matters
Centralizes and standardizes suicide prevention resources. By requiring the Office of Mental Health and Education Department to collaborate on developing or identifying materials, the bill aims to ensure that schools across New York have access to consistent, evidence-based information about suicide prevention and depression in youth.
Addresses cultural differences in mental health. The materials must include information on how depression can manifest differently across cultures, which could help educators better recognize signs of distress in diverse student populations and respond more appropriately.
Empowers local school decisions while expanding access. The bill makes the use of these materials optional, respecting local control over curriculum, but lowers barriers by providing easy online access and encouraging integration into health education taught by certified teachers.
Promotes early intervention and awareness. By equipping educators and students with knowledge about warning signs, risk factors, and response actions, the legislation seeks to foster a proactive approach to youth suicide prevention, potentially reducing stigma and encouraging students at risk to seek help.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Suicide Prevention in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
30 Co-sponsors
- John T. McDonald III
- Carmen De La Rosa
- Marcos Crespo
- Andrew Raia
- Clifford Crouch
- Phil Steck
- N. Nick Perry
- Albert A. Stirpe
- Ellen C. Jaffee
- Daniel O'Donnell
- Linda Rosenthal
- Michael Blake
- Felix Ortiz
- Victor M. Pichardo
- Inez E. Dickens
- Joseph Giglio
- Anthony D'Urso
- Walter T. Mosley
- Fred Thiele
- Jo Anne Simon
- Crystal Peoples-Stokes
- Richard Gottfried
- Latoya Joyner
- Vivian Cook
- Charles Barron
- Mary Beth Walsh
- Mark C. Johns
- William Magnarelli
- Maritza Davila
- Thomas Abinanti
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Suicide Prevention in Schools
In Senate Committee · Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities · Sponsor Marisol Alcantara
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6718
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 16, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SEPULVEDA, McDONALD, DE LA ROSA, CRESPO, RAIA, CROUCH, GRAF, STECK, PERRY, STIRPE, JAFFEE, O'DONNELL, LUPINACCI, ROSENTHAL, BLAKE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, HOOPER, McLAUGHLIN, RAMOS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the education law, in relation to suicide prevention
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (g) to read as follows:
(g) The office, in consultation with the education department, shall identify or develop materials for educators regarding suicide prevention measures and signs of depression among school-aged youth which may be used by school districts and boards of cooperative educational services, at their option, to educate students as they deem appropriate. Such educational materials shall include, but not be limited to, information regarding symptoms of depression, how depression manifests itself in different cultures, warning signs of suicide, actions to take once a youth is identified as a risk of suicide, and a list of educational websites regarding suicide and youths. Such material shall be available on the internet website of the education department. The website of the office shall provide a hyperlink to the internet page of the education department that displays such materials.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 804-e to read as follows:
§ 804-e. Instruction related to the prevention of suicide among youths. 1. The commissioner shall make available, on the department website, materials, pursuant to subdivision (g) of section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law, among school-aged youth identified or developed by the office of mental health in consultation with the department.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00029-01-7
A. 6718 2
2. Instruction regarding the prevention of suicide may be included in the health education provided to all secondary school pupils and shall be taught by teachers certified in health education. Related courses in the secondary school curriculum may be taught in a manner supportive of health education regarding the prevention of suicide among youths.
3. School authorities shall be authorized to provide the needed facilities, time and place for the instruction set forth in this section and to provide learning aids and curriculum resource materials which contribute to effective teaching methods and learning in health education regarding the prevention of suicide among youths.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.