SB 972, the suicide prevention legislation authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino, passed the California State Legislature and is headed to Gov. Brown’s for his signature.

SB 972 requires public, charter and private schools print the National Suicide Prevention Hotline telephone number on all student identification cards for grades seven through college.

“I am so glad that this small but important piece of legislation has garnered support from both houses and is headed to the governor. As a father and a legislator, the safety of our children is a top priority. I hope that, as a community, we are more open to have a dialogue about mental health and suicide to help prevent these horrific tragedies,” said Senator Portantino. “If one life can be saved through this bill then all of our efforts will have been worth it.”

Senator Portantino is a strong advocate for suicide prevention and mental health policy. This bill is also personal for Senator Portantino as his family has been affected by suicide. Adolescent suicide and self-inflicted injury are serious social and public health concerns. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24.

SB 972 is supported by a host of agencies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, California American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and California Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/y7jtzcsq.