WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today,Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention (RAYS) Act, which would require middle and high schools to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and relevant suicide prevention information on student IDs. This bill will make suicide prevention readily accessible for students, helping to save lives and protect their mental health.
Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said, “It is unacceptable that suicide is the leading cause of death for Americans under 21. This legislation will expand access to vital resources and help save lives.”
Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said, “We can’t afford to leave holes in the safety net we’ve built to catch people when they’re going through hard times or struggling with their mental health. That’s why we created the 988 hotline in the first place. Now, we need to make sure everyone, especially young people, know help is available to them when they need it. This is a common-sense idea to help those facing mental health challenges. It tells them that they are not alone and help is out there.”
This bill has been endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Alliance of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Psychologists, Save the Children, and Children’s National Hospital.
Key Provisions of the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention (RAYS) Act:
- Require middle and high schools to provide the phone number for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as well as relevant state and local suicide prevention contacts.
- Schools that do not issue an identification card would not be required to start, but would need to publish the information on school websites and other student portals.
Background:
In 2021, suicide was the leading cause of death for youth under 21 years old. Child mental health continues to worsen, with 37 percent of high school students reporting experiencing poor mental health. By making suicide prevention resources more readily available for children and their families, lives will be saved. In fact, 25 states, including Indiana, have already adopted a version of this bill, and those states report a 36 percent increase in calls to 988 within just one year of the law being enacted, indicating reduced suicide risk as people take advantage of the resources available to them.
