Information Request
October 9, 2006
Question: Have other states introduced bills to promote mental health/suicide screening programs like Teen Screen, or have they initiated programs through any other mechanisms?
Summary
Mental health/suicide screening in schools has been promoted through both legislation and state suicide prevention programs. No state legislation specifically cites Teen Screen as a method of mental health screening, but one statute in Illinois and bills or resolutions in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Florida promote suicide prevention programs in schools. The statute, bills, and resolution are highlighted below, along with an Arizona bill which mandates parental consent for all mental health screening.
Apart from legislative actions, state suicide prevention plans also promote mental health screening. State suicide prevention plans are developed by a committee of state agency and constituent representatives. The committee is usually headed by the state Department of Mental Health with significant input from other state agencies. As of 2005, 41 states have a plan, and 35 of them cite mental health screening as a desirable preventative measure. Seven states (FL, IA, NE, NY, NM, OR, and VT) specifically cite Teen Screen as a method of suicide prevention in their plans.
Mental Health Screening Statute
In 2004, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Suicide Prevention, Education, and Treatment Act (H.B.4558). The statute establishes a committee to create the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan and directs the Department of Public Health to establish 5 pilot programs addressing suicide prevention and to distribute information and screening tools for suicide prevention to the public, including to schools. The statute does not specify the types of information or screening tools, but it states that all schools should be given the necessary tools to do depression and suicide screenings. Since the statute was enacted, the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning Committee was formed and the state’s strategic plan was completed.
Mental Health Screening Bills
In February, 2006, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a resolution recognizing mental illness and suicide in youth as a public health crisis. The bill (S.R. 166) endorsed screening of youth in order to identify mental illness and prevent suicide. A similar resolution was introduced in the House (H.R. 119) in February, 2005 but no action was taken on it. The resolutions can be accessed at:
In February, 2006, a bill was introduced in the Florida Senate providing for a pilot program of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program for secondary schools. The program is a suicide prevention and depression screening program that is similar to Teen Screen. The bill does not require students to participate, but it does require parents to be given information on the program and a screening form. The bill (S.B. 1876) died in committee.
In February, 2006, a bill was introduced in the Iowa Senate to direct the Administrator of the Iowa Department of Mental Health to “work with the departments of education and public health in expanding the availability and public awareness of services making voluntary mental health screenings available to adolescent youth” (S.F. 2162). The bill was not reported out of committee.
Some states where Teen Screen and other mental health screening tools are being used in schools have proposed legislation to ban the practice or to mandate that a parent or guardian must give written consent prior to a screening. An Arizona Senate bill (S.B. 1324) would require signed parental consent for mental health screenings of students. Similar bills have also been introduced in California, Delaware, and Georgia.
State Suicide Prevention Plans
In addition to legislation, states have also promoted mental health/suicide screening by including it in their state suicide prevention plan. According to a 2005 study by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), a national advocacy organization promoting suicide awareness and prevention, 41 states had completed suicide prevention plans, and all but two of the nine states without a plan had begun development of one. Of the 41 completed plans, 35 of them mention mental health/suicide screening. Seven states, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont, recognize Teen Screen as a resource for schools in their Suicide Prevention Plans. The report by SPRC also provides links to each state’s plan.
For more information, contact Sarah Steverman at sarah.steverman@ncsl.org or 202-624-3583.
 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Page
CHAP Chronic Care and Quality
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