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January 13, 2025Murphy Announces New Grant to Train Teachers in Identifying Signs of Suicidal Behavior
As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s initiative for strengthening youth mental health, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced the award of a grant to help New Jersey teachers receive the training and tools they need to identify the signs of suicidal behavior among youth and connect students with support.
The $550,000 federally funded grant, designed to support the launch of the Youth Suicide Prevention and Awareness Campaign, was awarded to the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), a nonprofit created by two Monmouth County fathers who each experienced the devastating loss of a child by suicide.
“Youth mental health remains a top priority for my Administration, and we have taken great strides to ensure our students, educators, and communities have the resources they need to prevent tragedies and support the well-being of our children,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Raising awareness for the intervention resources within reach of New Jersey students is critical to fostering safe and supportive environments for New Jersey’s young people. Together, we can provide the education and tools needed to help save young lives.”
“It’s our duty to respond with a critical sense of urgency to strengthen our suicide prevention efforts throughout the state,” said Kevin Dehmer, Acting Commissioner of Education. “By providing educators with high-quality training, this initiative can help build a culture of care, resilience, and understanding among New Jersey’s youth.”
The funding will be used during a 24-month period to develop a comprehensive public awareness campaign, create online training for educators throughout New Jersey, and host a statewide conference for educators, mental health professionals, community leaders, and other stakeholders. The initiative will raise awareness, help educators identify the signs of youth suicidal behavior, reduce the stigma involving mental health issues, and provide training and resources for educators to help at-risk students.
For more information, see the NJDOE’s Youth Mental Health resources and the Youth Suicide Prevention webpage. For more information on the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, see the SPTS webpage.
[photo credit] Flickr: Phil Murphy
2 Comments
New Jersey legalized marijuana – in addition to medicinal use – adult recreational use. The law was enacted with absolutely NO public education requirements on the dangers of THC on the developing brain. ‘ It is well established that the brain undergoes a rewiring process that is not complete until approximately 25 years of age.’
‘THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, can significantly disrupt the development of a growing brain, particularly during adolescence, with an increase risk of developing psychotic disorders.’
According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, marijuana users in New Jersey are usually young and high school and middle school students increasingly are using marijuana.
This is a recipe for disaster- A possible suicide.. It is happening more than anyone in the industry- an industry that surpassed $1 billion in combined medicinal and recreational cannabis sales in 2024 – would like New Jerseyans to know.
Cannabis addiction is real. It is estimated that people who use cannabis have about a 30% likelihood of becoming addicted. All the better for the industry. An industry that markets direct to the youth in the form of gummies, candy edibles and flavored vapes, to give the impression that the product is safe, natural, and ok to use.
Governor Murphy announces a $550,000 federal grant for suicide training to the NJDOE but never connected the dots as to why such an increase in young adult suicides.
It feels like just money being thrown at problems with little thought as to why the problem exists in the first place.
Money talks; but putting the cart before the horse causes loss of life. This is no longer a discussion, this is a matter of life or death. If it is put in those terms, perhaps our lawmakers will stand up and take notice and be honest that just maybe the legalization of marijuana without a public health awareness obligation is costing New Jersey its most precious resource – its’ youth. When will we learn that it could be anyone’s child?
Edit: New Jersey made $1 Billion in sales of cannabis in 2024.