Last year, members of the Oklahoma House and Senate filed 2,815 pieces of legislation. The vast majority of those bills failed to garner any attention in their respective bodies, let alone with the general public. This upcoming session will likely produce thousands of well-intended bills and many may fall by the wayside.
Bills fail for a variety of reasons. They can be considered too controversial – on the fringes, or too mundane – or perceived as not making enough of a difference to warrant, etc. There are countless reasons that a bill fails, and just as many reasons why a bill should fail. Rarely are bills ever perfect solutions to problems they purport to address. But should that preclude a bill from being considered?
Rep. Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City), recently announced plans to introduce a bill which would require any junior high or high school that currently (or at a later date of their choosing) provides students with district-issued identification cards to print the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on the back of the ID. This measure is revenue neutral; it does not require a school to issue IDs, nor does it mandate changing current ID systems. It merely requires schools to utilize the back of the ID.
When suicide is the second leading cause of death among our youth, our leaders have a duty to address the crisis. However, the government cannot solve this crisis alone. We as a society must remove the stigma associated with asking for help.
Talking about mental health issues, about bad days, hopelessness and depression must become no different than talking about the common cold. Thomas Jefferson said, “The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness.” If you find agreement with Jefferson in this case, I urge you to join us in supporting this measure when it is presented in the spring.
Warning Signs
• Talking about wanting to die
• Looking for a way to kill oneself
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Displaying extreme mood swings
The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide but may not be what causes a suicide.
What To Do
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide:
• Do not leave the person alone
• Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
• Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
• Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional