Requires public school instruction in suicide prevention to be provided in grades kindergarten through 12 and include certain elements.

A4232

ASSEMBLY, No. 4232

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires public school instruction in suicide
prevention to be provided in grades kindergarten through 12 and include certain
elements.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning public school instruction in suicide
prevention and amending P.L.2005, c.310.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 3 of P.L.2005,
c.310 (C.18A:6-113) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� Within 180 days of the
effective date of this act, the State Board of Education shall revise the Core
Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education to
provide for instruction in suicide prevention
, and mental health as it
relates to suicide prevention,
in an appropriate place in the curriculum of

[
elementary
school, middle school, and high school pupils
]

students in each of the grades kindergarten through 12.� The instruction
shall incorporate evidence-based standards and shall be adapted to the age and
understanding of the students.� The instruction, at a minimum, shall include
the following elements:

����
a.���� the concept of
wellness including self-care and personal responsibility for one�s own mental
health and wellness;

����
b.��� the concept of mental
health as an integral part of health;

����
c.���� recognition of the
warning signs of suicide;

����
d.��� awareness of the risk
of suicide and self-harm;

����
e.���� the relationship
between mental health, substance abuse, and other negative coping behaviors;

����
f.���� the negative impact
of stigma and cultural attitudes toward mental illness;

����
g.��� the implications of
risk factors, protective factors, and resiliency on mental health and wellness;
and

����
h.��� identifying
appropriate professionals, services, and family supports for suicide prevention
.

(cf: P.L.2005, c.310, s.3)

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year
following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� Current law requires that
instruction in suicide prevention be included in an appropriate place in the
curriculum of elementary school, middle school, and high school students.� This
bill provides that the instruction in suicide prevention will also include
mental health as it relates to suicide prevention, and the instruction will be
provided to students in each of the grades kindergarten through 12.� The
instruction must incorporate evidence-based standards and be adapted to the age
and understanding of the students.� The bill also specifies the following
minimum elements that must be included as part of the instruction:� (a)� the
concept of wellness including self-care and personal responsibility for one�s
own mental health and wellness; (b)� the concept of mental health as an
integral part of health; (c)� recognition of the warning signs of suicide; (d)
awareness of the risk of suicide and self-harm; (e) the relationship between
mental health, substance abuse, and other negative coping behaviors; (f) the
negative impact of stigma and cultural attitudes toward mental illness; (g) the
implications of risk factors, protective factors, and resiliency on mental
health and wellness; and (h) identifying appropriate professionals, services,
and family supports for suicide prevention.