Senator Jill Schupp’s priority for next year’s legislative session is a proposal to allow public school staff to learn about suicide prevention among children. The bill would have schools create a policy to provide such educational opportunities for employees.

Sen. Jill Schupp (D-St. Louis)

Sen. Jill Schupp (D-St. Louis)

“With suicide becoming the number two cause of death, it went from number three to number two across the country in young people ages 10-24, I think it’s essential that we get some work done to help teachers and educators recognize the signs and symptoms,” said Schupp.

Schupp said offering such information for staff can make a difference.

“The culture of what goes on in a school or in a home can push somebody over the edge and we want to catch them and help them before they fall through and in an irrevocable way,” said Schupp. “Passage of this law will help save lives in the state and I think everybody sees the value in that and it’s certainly a nonpartisan issue.”

Schupp said bullying can sometimes lead to suicide but children who commit suicide aren’t all bullied.

Some suicide prevention groups in Missouri have also offered to provide training tools.