RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island Law Aims to Prevent Suicides at Public Colleges
August 03, 2018
A new law in Rhode Island aims to prevent suicide among college students. Recently signed by the governor, the law requires public colleges and universities to develop plans for addressing student mental health. It encourages schools to provide access to mental health services on campus so students do not have to seek assistance in the community. Schools must show their plans to the state legislature and Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education by the first of next year. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), 11 states have passed laws that promote suicide prevention in higher education. Nicole Gibson, AFSP director of state policy and grassroots advocacy, said that increasing access to services on campus could encourage more students to reach out for help. “That would make seeking help just seem more typical,” she said.
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