An important measure in suicide prevention recently took effect when Governor Quinn signed into law The Jason Flatt Act at the Center on Halsted Saturday, June 26, 2010.

Under the Jason Flatt Act, educators in grades 7-12 are required to receive two hours of training in youth suicide awareness and prevention in order to be certified to teach.

In Illinois, nearly 15% of young people reported they had seriously considered suicide in the past twelve months, or 1 in 8.

With training, educators will have the information, tools and resources to help identify warning signs of at-risk adolescents and know the appropriate intervention and referral techniques.

The legislation was introduced by Representative Greg Harris and sponsored by Senator Heather Steans and passed by unanimous vote. Illinois is the fifth state to pass the Jason Flatt Act.

Local Jason Foundation partner and clinical affiliate, Riveredge Hospital, provides certified on-site training opportunities throughout the region, available upon request. To schedule a free training, contact Ginny Trainor, Director of Business Development at Riveredge Hospital at 708-488-4970. An open training is scheduled at Riveredge’s Forest Park campus August 26, 2010 from 12:00-2:00PM, for more information visit www.riveredgehospital.com.