§ 7–501

A statewide Youth Suicide Prevention School Program is essential to address the continuing problem of youth suicide throughout the State;

The youth suicide problem often exists in combination with other problems, including drug abuse, alcohol use, and gambling addiction;

A suicide prevention program for young people should promote recognizing student behavioral health issues, recognizing students experiencing trauma or violence out of school, and referring students to behavioral health services;

A suicide prevention program for young people must emphasize a partnership between educational programs at the State and local levels and community suicide prevention and crisis center agencies;

It is of vital importance that a statewide Youth Suicide Prevention School Program be established with shared responsibility at both the State and county levels, and that this cooperation shall be a major tool in efforts to achieve the successful prevention of youth suicide; and

County suicide prevention and crisis center agencies along with local education agencies are best suited for developing and implementing programs for statewide youth suicide prevention.