Hastings focused on youth suicide prevention

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) is sponsoring legislation that focuses the attention on youth suicide awareness and prevention. The measure would require the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to develop a model suicide awareness and prevention policy, which would then be adopted by all the school districts in the state.

The measure is intended to raise universal awareness for youth suicide and to prevent these unfortunate events from happening again. Hastings brought this legislation as a result of a local event.

“Ann Marie Blaha was a shining light in our community. She was a nice, 11 year old girl with a great family involved in our community,” Hastings said. “Unfortunately she committed suicide and as a result her great parents have made it their mission to prevent other parents from having to go through this.”

Senate Bill 1793 will also direct ISBE to provide information and professional development material to schools across Illinois.

“Our daughter meant the world to our family. We would do anything to bring her back,” said Ann Marie’s parents Mike and Sue Blaha. “We would do anything to prevent this from happening to another parent.”

SB 1793 passed out of committee unanimously and moves to the Senate floor for consideration.