SB 41-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION  4:19:46 PM CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 41 "An Act relating to mental health education." 4:20:02 PM ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Senator, District G, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 41 introduced the bill: Mental health is an essential component of overall well-being, and it's time we equip Alaska's youth with the tools they need to navigate life's challenges. Senate Bill 41 is a critical step toward integrating mental health education into our schools, ensuring that students develop the knowledge and skills to recognize, address, and seek support for mental health concerns. Educators, parents, healthcare professionals, and community leaders across the state have voiced strong support for this legislation, recognizing the urgent need to address Alaska's youth mental health crisis, with suicide rates among our young people remaining alarmingly high. Providing students with age-appropriate mental health education will reduce stigma, promote early intervention, and foster resilience, key factors in preventing crises before they escalate. Again, Senate Bill 41 follows the lead of other states that have successfully implemented mental health education in schools, reinforcing that mental health well-being is just as important as physical health. Therefore, by equipping students with coping strategies and access to resources, we can create a healthier, more informed generation that is prepared for success in and beyond the classroom. 4:21:24 PM CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 41. 4:21:48 PM JONNI MYERS, Vice-President, Kodiak College Student Government, Kodiak, Alaska, testified in support of SB 41. She shared that she experienced the onset of severe mental illness at age 12, including volatile mood swings and hallucinations, and neither she nor her young parents understood what was happening. At age 14, she asked to see a doctor and was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder with psychotic episodes. She described the stigma she faced in high school, including students assuming she was on drugs or asking for her prescribed medication. She emphasized that mental health education would have been beneficial during her school years, as there was none available, and she had to explain her condition to peers on her own. MS. MYERS noted that Kodiak College, where she currently studies, has no counselors, and students are working to coordinate with the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) psychology department for support. She said if college students struggle to access mental health resources, the situation is likely worse for younger students. She stressed the importance of providing mental health education from kindergarten through 12th grade to reduce stigma and help children understand and accept their conditions. 4:25:04 PM KATHLEEN WEDEMEYER, Deputy Director, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Seattle, Washington, testified in opposition to SB 41 as written. She urged a no vote on SB 41 in its current form, citing concerns with the biomedical model of mental health, which relies on symptom clusters rather than objective laboratory tests for diagnosis. She quoted the World Health Organization, stating that this model emphasizes diagnosis, medication, and symptom reduction over social and environmental factors. She highlighted that some medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, are often misdiagnosed as psychiatric conditions, leading to improper treatment. She called for the inclusion of healthcare providers such as naturopaths or medical doctors with experience treating mental health without psychiatric drugs and requested that training guidelines incorporate medical, nutritional, and other data that can mimic psychiatric disorders. 4:27:04 PM CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 41. 4:27:14 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked committee thanked the committee for hearing SB 41 and stated her desire for it become law this session. 4:27:29 PM CHAIR TOBIN [held SB 41 in committee.]