Submitted by Office of U.S. Senator Jim Banks
Banks
On Wednesday, March 11, U.S. 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.
“It is unacceptable that suicide is the leading cause of death for Americans under 21,” Sen. Banks said. “This legislation will expand access to vital resources and help save lives.”
Key provisions of the bill
- 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.