SE Grand Rapids News

Rep. Andrea Schroeder's initiative to help prevent youth suicide is gaining ground in the state House of Representatives.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Michigan youth and young adults aged 10 to 24, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Schroeder's "Save Our Students" plan would put a 24-hour crisis hotline phone number on student identification cards for students in grades 6 through 12. Schools are not mandated to issue identification cards, but those that do would incorporate the number to a local, state or national hotline of their choosing into the design.

The measure was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee after testimony from Schroeder and the Miller family, who lost their son Nikolai to suicide last year. Its next examination will be by the House Ways and Means Committee.

“This legislation is simple – let’s get the resources we already have directly into the hands of our students to help prevent suicides,” Schroeder said in a press release from then Michigan House Republicans. “This is no longer a question of ‘what can we do’ — but rather ‘what must we do’ to save our students. There are services available, and we must find better ways  to connect our young people with these services when they need help.” 

The Miller family said the state can no longer ignore the need for mental health services, especially among youth, according to the press release.

“I still firmly believe today that he didn’t actually mean to die, as many survivors of suicide attempts will tell you. They just want the pain to end and they don’t know of any other way than to kill themselves,” Kris Miller said in the press release. “But what if Nikolai would have had immediate access to a suicide hotline where he could call and talk through his feelings? This could have been a turning point for him and for our family. This would have started the process of having real conversations and getting him the help he desperately needed. Teens nowadays are not going to Google suicide hotline numbers. If it’s not readily at their fingertips, they are not going to seek out that information, especially in a time of crisis. Having a 24/7 hotline printed on student ID cards lets kids know they have options. They have a  resource to call when they may need it most.”

Schroeder's plan also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to provide materials related to suicide prevention, depression and anxiety to schools for display.

“Each and every youth suicide is heartbreaking for the families and communities involved,” Schroeder said in the press release from the Michigan House Republicans. “It’s also heartbreaking to realize it’s happening more and more often across the state and across the country. We must come together and do more to ensure our children  know help is available when they need it most.”