HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – Two new bills in the Montana Legislature would address suicide prevention for Montana’s youth.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports that Democratic Representative Mary Ann Dunwell from Helena is sponsoring House Bills 186 and 187, which would offer $2.5 million in grants to schools for mental health screening and suicide prevention training. Dunwell says the request for state funding might bring some resistance from lawmakers, but the programs are necessary to continue to prevent suicide.
“We need to make this investment. Our values are reflected in what we spend our money on.”
The bills are based on studies and recommendations by the Department of Health and Human Services, which says Montana’s youth suicide rates are almost triple the national average. Dunwell says under the bills, schools would screen children as young as 11 years old.
“We need suicide prevention for young people. Not one more young life lost.”
The bills are scheduled for public hearings Tuesday.
