Suicide Prevention Organizations Team Up To Introduce Life-Saving Legislation

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. and NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI), a youth suicide prevention and awareness organization, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) are proud to announce that they intend to introduce The Jason Flatt Act to ten states during the 2012 legislative year.  

The bill requires states to provide professional training for educators on youth suicide prevention.  The Jason Flatt Act helps to provide the information, tools, and resources necessary to identify and refer at-risk youth to a mental health professional. States that have already adopted the bill include Arkansas, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

"We know that one of the best ways of preventing suicide is by getting those who might be at risk professional help as quickly as possible," said Robert Gebbia, Executive Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "Too often warning signs are missed.  By training and informing educators about risk factors, we hope that they can play a vital role in helping reduce youth suicide."

"My life changed forever on July 16, 1997 when I lost my youngest son Jason to suicide.  He was just 16 years old. I started researching youth suicide and was alarmed by the statistics," said Clark Flatt, President and CEO for the Jason Foundation.   "I also learned that suicide can be prevented.  By partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, I believe we will save lives."

JFI is a nationally recognized leader in youth suicide awareness and prevention programs.  With more than 85 affiliate offices throughout the country, JFI is one of the nation's largest clinically-based non-profit organizations for the awareness and prevention of youth suicide.  

AFSP is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.  While AFSP is recognized for leadership at the national level, much of its work is carried out by a nationwide network of chapters and Field Advocate volunteers.

For more information, please visit JFI's website at http://www.jasonfoundation.com or The AFSP's website at http://www.afsp.org

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention