Testimony Given in Support of Suicide Education Bills

COLUMBUS—Three individuals came to Columbus to give proponent testimony on a pair of bills dealing with suicide education in Ohio. House Bills 502 and 503, introduced by State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills), would require both public and private schools to give teachers and staff suicide prevention education annually.

“These bills would assist school personnel to turn the tide against the silent epidemic of youth suicide,” said Rep. Anielski. “Our professional teachers and school administrators are with students on any given day and have the opportunity to identify students in crisis or in need. Knowing the signs and symptoms of distress could be a life-or-death situation for our school personnel.”

Jack Binder of LifeAct, Krista Hussar of Canton Local Schools, and Sandy Williams of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation testified before the House Education and Career Readiness Committee. Each brought decades of experience as well as personal anecdotes for the real need for the legislation.

Copies of their testimony can be found on the committee’s website, http://www.ohiohouse.gov/committee/education-and-career-readiness.