State Senator Patty Ritchie recently met in Albany with students from Central and Northern New York to discuss mental health issues and suicide prevention in our schools.
During the visit, Senator Ritchie presented students from the Phoenix Central School District, and their teachers, Carol Blackburn and Colleen Longley, with the pen certificate commemorating the signing into law a bill she sponsored (S.5860A) to provide New York State universities, community colleges and city universities with educational materials on depression and suicide prevention.
The idea for the bill was first brought to Senator Ritchie’s attention by Phoenix Central School District students and Blackburn.
“I am truly grateful for the advocacy of Carol Blackburn and her students, and especially for their ideas to better connect people struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide with the help they need,” said Senator Ritchie.
“It’s truly inspiring that students, at such a young age, are taking an active role in issues that impact them, and their peers. I have high hopes for this group of dedicated students, who I know will continue to make a difference in the future,” she added.
For more information on the measure, as well as links to suicide prevention resources, please visit www.ritchie.nysenate.gov.
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