SB 80-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION  9:02:09 AM CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 80 "An Act relating to mental health education." 9:02:39 AM SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 80, read the sponsor statement: SB 80 amends the existing health education curriculum statute to include mental health curriculum in all K- 12 health classrooms to adequately educate students on vital information pertaining to mental health symptoms, resources, and treatment. Currently, the health curriculum guidelines include prevention and treatment of diseases; learning about "good" health practices including diet, exercise, and personal hygiene; and "bad" health habits such as substance abuse, alcoholism, and patterns of physical abuse. But the guidelines do not address mental health. Following passage of SB80, the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) will develop guidelines for instruction in mental health in consultation with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and representatives of national, state, and tribal mental health organizations. Such organizations include, but are not limited to, the National Council for Behavioral Health, Providence Health and Services Alaska, Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, Inc., North Star Behavioral Health System, and the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness Alaska. The standards will be developed in consultation with counselors, educators, students, administrators, and other mental health organizations to form effective guidelines for school boards, teachers, and students. After standards have been developed, the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development and DEED will be responsible for implementation throughout the Alaska school system. As with existing health education curriculum, the DEED, the DHSS, and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault will provide technical assistance to school districts in the development of personal safety curricula. An existing school health education specialist position will assist in coordinating the program statewide. The State has a responsibility to treat the current mental health crisis in Alaska as a serious public health issue. By creating mental health education standards and encouraging schools to teach a mental health curriculum, SB80 aims to decrease the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and increase students' knowledge of mental health, encouraging conversation around and understanding of the issue. 9:05:22 AM DELANEY THIELE, Intern, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis for SB 80: Section 1: This section adds intent language stating it is the intent of the Legislature that the Board of Education and Early Development develop guidelines for instruction in mental health in consultation with representatives of mental health organizations and regional tribal health organizations, including the National Council for Behavioral Health, Providence Health and Services Alaska, Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, Inc., North Star Behavioral Health System, and the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness Alaska. Section 2: This section amends AS 14.30.360 by removing the word "physical" when referencing instruction for health education and adding "mental health" to the list of curriculum items each district includes in their health education programs. Section 3: Amends AS 14.30.360 by clarifying that health guidelines developed by the Board of Education and Early Development must provide standards for instruction in mental health and be developed in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Services and representatives of national and state mental health organizations. Section 4: Amends the uncodified law of the State of Alaska by adding a new section to read "the state Board of Education and Early Development shall develop the mental health guidelines required by AS 14.30.360(b), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act, within two years after the effective date of this Act." SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON presented a video about the issues of mental health for young people in Alaska. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON advised that the companion bill to SB 80 is HB 60, sponsored by Representative Claman. 9:11:44 AM CHAIR HOLLAND commented that COVID-19 has not improved the situation, and some schools are back to in-person learning because of the high incidence of depression among students. SENATOR STEVENS shared that on the news last night he saw a fascinating story about suicide. He said people don't talk about suicide because they are afraid it may increase the likelihood of suicide, but that is not true. He said he assumes that this program will talk about childhood suicide because it is becoming more and more of a problem because of COVID. He hopes that will be addressed in this program. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON confirmed that suicide will be talked about. She noted that her office has a letter of support from an organization that deals with suicide prevention. 9:13:57 AM SENATOR HUGHES referenced Section 2, and said it sounds like districts are not mandated to have health classes. They are simply encouraged to initiate and conduct such a program. She asked if all districts are conducting some sort of health program and if any are already weaving this type of material into their programs. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON answered that mental health education is not being addressed, and that is the reason for bringing the bill forward. She said she would follow up with a response to the first question. SENATOR HUGHES said that she agreed with Senator Stevens that it is in an important discussion, but she would be concerned about the curriculum for younger kids. She would want to know what that curriculum might look like. She asked Senator Gray-Jackson if she had any examples of what other states have done. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON responded that she would get that information. 9:15:26 AM SENATOR BEGICH noted that he is one of the legislative representatives on the Suicide Prevention Council as. He shared that during the meeting last month he learned that rates of the flu and other communicable diseases have gone down during the pandemic but not rates of suicide in young people, so this legislation is timely. He has seen that the curriculum for suicide prevention generally focuses on developmental assets in early ages. It is more a positive curriculum rather than one talking about suicide. Then it shifts as students get older. As in when the legislature dealt with the teen dating issue, the Bree Moore case, the whole nature of the curriculum must be designed to meet the developmental needs of the students. That is why the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is involved in curriculum development, so that it is developmentally appropriate. That is what he would hope DEED would do, using the best material from other states. CHAIR HOLLAND moved to invited testimony. 9:17:13 AM SHIRLEY HOLLOWAY, Ph.D., President, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) National Board, Vice President, NAMI Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, said that she is a former commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development. She found NAMI after she lost her daughter, who lived with mental illness, to suicide. NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the nation. NAMI helps families build better lives. Its signature programs are evidence-based. She thanked Senator Gray-Jackson for sponsoring SB 80. Education, early recognition, and intervention and prevention are key to minimizing mental health issues that are common in youth and adolescents and hopefully in eradicating the long-term disabilities caused by mental illness. It is so vital that Alaska's education system create a comprehensive mental health curriculum. Proper mental health is crucial to overall well-being, which is why mental health should be incorporated into existing health education curriculum, programs, and courses. Incorporating mental health education and addressing the myths that surround mental illness creates a broader understanding of psychiatric diseases, which will decrease stigma for those living with mental illness. Disseminating accurate information to schools and communities will increase the likelihood that children and teens struggling with symptoms are not viewed negatively by their peers. If that can be done, it increases the odds that youth will accept treatment, and lead to improved outcomes generated by early intervention. 9:20:24 AM DR. HOLLOWAY said that she applauded the young people speaking on the video. Fifty percent of mental illness develop by age 14; 75 percent by age 24. Seventy to 80 percent of children living with mental illness do not receive treatment. This leads to decreased performance in schools. Twenty-two million adolescents aged 12-17 have experienced a major depressive episode, and the estimate is that 60 percent did not receive any help or treatment. The dropout rate for children with severe emotional and mental health issues was twice that of other students. According to the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in three Alaskan students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks in the past year and 22.8 percent have seriously considered suicide. This was all pre-pandemic. This last year, with the isolation and associated issues, significantly more children were seen in emergency rooms with mental health issues. The Centers for Disease Control reports that beginning in April 2020 that the rates of children's mental health emergency room visits increased and remained elevated through October. DR. HOLLOWAY said that strengthening Alaska's existing public health curriculum to include mental health education and awareness will teach students to recognize the warning signs of mental distress and provide them with the language and resources to connect to help. This legislation expands existing health education requirements to include mental health in all K-12 health classroom. She thanked the committee for considering the importance of this legislation. In these challenging times it is more important than ever to take action to address mental health and to provide guidance and hope to all impacted by mental health issues. There is no physical health without mental health. SENATOR STEVENS asked if she had any reflection on whether discussing suicide with a child might be dangerous because it could plant the idea in their mind. He noted that Senator Hughes asked at what age the conversation would be appropriate. 9:23:39 AM DR. HOLLOWAY replied that she learned so much from the NAMI National chief medical officer. He made it clear that the evidence shows that not talking about it is dangerous. It needs to be brought out of the dark and into the open. As Senator Begich said, the curriculum is developmentally appropriate. The ones she has seen start in kindergarten and it is about feelings. Later suicide ideation starts to be broached. It must be carefully developed and developmentally appropriate. It could begin in middle school. It has to begin early but has to be appropriate. There is lots of good material that she could provide. SENATOR HUGHES said that she would like to hear from school districts. She just read [Anchorage School District Superintendent] Dr. Bishop's letter and is wondering if districts are already planning to incorporate something. Nothing prohibits that. She asked if the committee could see any curriculum that districts have adopted. SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said she will look into that and speak with Dr. Bishop. 9:27:11 AM CHAIR HOLLAND thanked Senator Gray-Jackson for bringing this important topic up. He held SB 80 in committee.