COLUMBUS—The
Ohio House of Representatives today passed legislation that focuses on
training teachers and certain school staff members in youth suicide
awareness and prevention
Designated
the “Jason Flatt Act, Ohio, in honor of Joseph Anielski,” House Bill
543 requires public schools, as well as community (charter) schools and
science, technology, engineering and math schools to train teachers and
staff in areas regarding suicide prevention.
“Experiencing
a child commit suicide is one of the most painful things a family can
go through,” Speaker Batchelder said. “It is important that people know
the warning signs and be ready to help someone going through a difficult
time in life. This bill helps raise suicide awareness and prevention
and will hopefully save lives in the future.”
Under
the bill, each school board and other school governing authority would
be required to either adopt or adapt to the standards developed by the
Ohio Department of Education or develop its own suicide awareness
standards in consultation with public or private agencies or persons
involved in youth suicide prevention programs.
In
its 2011 Youth Risk Behavioral Report for Ohio, the Center for Disease
Control reported that one in seven Ohio students said they had
“seriously considered suicide” in the past 12 months. Slightly more than
one in seven had actually “made a plan to commit suicide” in that time.
Additionally, one in 11 Ohio students reported “attempting suicide one
or more times in the past 12 months,” nearly 50 percent higher than the
national average.
If
signed into law, Ohio would become the 11th state in the nation to pass
the Jason Flatt Act. Founded in 1997, The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a
national non-profit organization with 87 Regional Affiliate Offices in
34 states. Last year, the foundation trained more than 150,000 educators
in youth suicide awareness and prevention.
HB 543 passed the House unanimously and will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.
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