Bill > S02705

This bill requires every local educational agency serving students in grades 7-12 to develop comprehensive suicide prevention policies by August 1, 2025. These policies must be created in consultation with mental health professionals and suicide prevention experts, and must address multiple key areas including identifying suicide risk factors (such as mental health conditions, childhood trauma, bullying, and discrimination), training school employees to recognize suicide risks, developing protocols for responding to suicide warning signs and crisis situations, establishing communication procedures with parents, and creating partnerships with community organizations for student mental health support. The bill specifically highlights the need to address high-risk groups like LGBTQ youth, youth with disabilities, and youth experiencing homelessness. The policies must ensure school employees act within their professional scope, emphasize that law enforcement involvement should be a last resort, and include guidelines for supporting students after suicide attempts or suicide deaths. The New York State Education Department is required to develop model policies to guide local educational agencies and will also be responsible for tracking and reporting on implementation. The bill aims to reduce youth suicide rates by providing schools with structured, comprehensive approaches to prevention, intervention, and postvention.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2705