The Jason Foundation Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of Legislation

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Jun 29, 2017, 14:12 ET

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn., June 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI), a nationally recognized leader in youth suicide awareness and prevention, commemorates the ten-year anniversary of the initial passage of The Jason Flatt Act on July 1, 2017. In 2007, The Jason Flatt Act was passed in Tennessee and became the nation's most inclusive and mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention legislation pertaining to teacher in-service training. It requires all educators in the state to complete two hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training each year in order to be licensed to teach in Tennessee.

Since 2007, eighteen additional states have taken the initiative to be proactive in preventing youth suicide by passing The Jason Flatt Act. Visit www.jasonfoundation.com for a list off all these states and information regarding their legislation.

Educating teachers to recognize signs of concern and elevated risk factors is a major step in saving young lives. The Jason Flatt Act works within a state's continuing education requirements by making youth suicide prevention training a required subject. Although The Jason Flatt Act does not require the use of specific programs, many states and school districts use JFI's Professional Development Series to satisfy the requirement. In the last three years, The Jason Foundation and its National Network of Community Affiliates have conducted more than 445,000 educator trainings across the country.

Currently, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-24. (2015 CDC WISQARS) According to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey in the past 12 months, over 1 out of every 6 young people reported they had seriously considered suicide (17.7%) and over 1 out of every 12 young people reported they had attempted suicide (8.6%). Four out of five young people contemplating suicide show clear warning signs prior to the attempt. It is imperative that educators know how to recognize signs of concern of at-risk youth and are prepared to react should they see these signs.

Email [email protected] if you would like to find out what you can do to introduce The Jason Flatt Act in your state.

The Jason Foundation is a non-profit founded after the tragic death of 16-year-old Jason, the son of JFI's President Clark Flatt. JFI has been providing programs for the awareness and prevention of youth suicide since 1997. All programs and services are available at no cost to those with whom we contract.

SOURCE The Jason Foundation, Inc.