SB18-114 Summary

• School districts, charter schools, and institute charter schools are encouraged to develop student suicide prevention policies and designate a staff person as a suicide prevention coordinator.

• Schools must implement tiered suicide prevention training for staff (comprehensive training for health professionals, periodic training for teachers/coaches, and basic training for all staff) and integrate mental health and suicide prevention education throughout curricula.

• Schools are encouraged to provide peer-to-peer suicide prevention education, parent education, and use evidence-based resources from the Office of Suicide Prevention, School Safety Resource Center, and Colorado Parent and Teacher Association.

• The Student Suicide Prevention Grant Program for Schools is created to provide up to 25 grants per year ($5,000-$10,000 each) to schools developing and implementing suicide prevention policies, administered by the Department of Public Health and Environment.

• The Office of Suicide Prevention is formally established in statute, and the Department must post evidence-based best practices and suicide prevention resources on its website by November 1, 2018.