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TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher and Assemblymen Bob Morgan and Mike Panter which would require the State Board of Education to include two hours of instruction in suicide prevention as part of the professional development requirement for teaching staff was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 39-0.

“Right now, suicide is the third leading killer of teenagers, but through education and outreach, we can change that,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “Just like any other disease, if suicidal feelings are recognized early enough, the fatality rate can be undercut through counseling and treatment. By equipping our teachers with the appropriate skills to recognize kids in need, we will be able to help thousands overcome the feelings of low-self worth and hopelessness that feed into suicidal tendencies.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher and Assemblymen Bob Morgan and Mike Panter which would require the State Board of Education to include two hours of instruction in suicide prevention as part of the professional development requirement for teaching staff was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

“Suicide is the third leading killer of teens, but it shouldn’t be the case,” said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “Often, there are warning signs that should raise a red flag to trained individuals, but the problem is that teachers, who spend a lot of time with students in the course of a week, do not have the proper tools to identify these warning signs. This training will allow teachers to intervene early, and ultimately, it will save lives.”