Assemblymember Berman champions suicide prevention training

"Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death for youth ages 10-25 in California, and rates have increased over the last two decades. Year after year, more youth die by suicide than motor vehicle accidents. Too many communities across California have been devastated by youth suicides, including my hometown of Palo Alto. We must do everything we possibly can to prevent these tragedies, Berman said in a release."

"AB 2003 will provide lifesaving suicide prevention training for all K-12 students, teachers, administrators and parents. Berman partnered with the Commission for Behavioral Health on AB 2003, which builds on a previous online suicide prevention training program offered to middle and high school students and staff from June 2020 to December 2024. Berman secured funding for that program through the budget in 2018. This training reached more than 20,000 middle and high school students and staff in California."

"In addition to providing permanent training, AB 2003 will also ensure that data from suicide risk screenings are made available to help identify trends and disparities, inform targeted interventions and strengthen suicide prevention strategies across California. While many schools currently conduct these screenings, the results are not systematically shared, creating gaps in understanding student needs and limiting the development of effective, targeted support."

AB 2003 permanently provides free online suicide-prevention training to all K–12 students, teachers, administrators, and parents across California. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth ages 10–25 in the state, with rates rising over two decades and more youth dying by suicide than in motor vehicle accidents. Communities across California, including Palo Alto, have been devastated by youth suicides. The bill builds on a June 2020–December 2024 program that reached more than 20,000 middle and high school students and staff after state budget funding in 2018. AB 2003 also requires sharing suicide-risk screening data to identify trends, disparities, and guide targeted interventions and prevention strategies.

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