Pennsylvania bill would require hotline on student IDs as suicide ranks second in youth deaths, proposal says
A Pennsylvania lawmaker announced plans to reintroduce legislation that would require middle and high school student ID cards statewide to display a suicide prevention hotline number, according to the memo.
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State Rep. David Delloso, a Democrat representing Delaware County, said the measure would ensure students have immediate access to crisis resources that can help and support them.
Under the proposal, student ID cards would be required to display a national, state or local suicide prevention hotline number, such as 988, the nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The 988 Lifeline connects callers, texters and online chat users with trained crisis counselors.
Suicide ranks second in youth deaths
Delloso cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that says suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24.
According to Delloso, 20% of U.S. high school students surveyed in 2023 reported seriously considering suicide during the previous 12 months.
“By raising awareness and providing resources directly to students, we can better support their mental health and help prevent the worst from occurring,” Delloso said.
Similar legislation passed in other states
According to the memo, similar legislation has been passed in Michigan and New Hampshire in recent years.
This proposal has not yet been submitted for introduction.
Resources Call 911: If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.Call 988: Get connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.Crisis Text Line: Get 24/7 help from the Crisis Text Line. Text PA to 741741 to start the conversation.PA Crisis Hotlines: Find a crisis line in your county.