Attorney General Buddy Caldwell stood in support as Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law the Jason Flatt Act. The Jason Flatt Act is a piece of legislation which passed unanimously in the Lousiana legislature. Louisiana is the second state in the nation, behind Tennessee, to enact this new law. The law requires educators to receive two hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training.
Attorney General Caldwell supported this legislation after meeting with the founder of the Jason Foundation, Clark Flatt. Flatt lost his teenage son, Jason, to suicide in 1997.
“Statistics show us, one out of every seven students in Louisiana had made a plan to commit suicide in the past twelve months,” said Caldwell. “And one out of every 12 students actually attempted suicide during the same period. I applaud the legislature and our Governor for passing this law, which could help save lives.”
Since Flatt’s loss in 1997, he has organized a national effort to combat the problem of young people taking their own life. His Jason Foundation is a non-profit group which provides comprehensive training to educators and parents on the warning signs of depression and suicide. Flatt has gained the support of more than 40 other attorney generals and numerous college and high school athletic coaches. These leaders act as ambassadors for the Jason Foundation and its efforts.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s website now has a link where parents and teachers can find valuable information that will help them identify the risk factors of depression and suicide. The website is www.agbuddycaldwell.com or you can sign on to the Jason Foundation at www.jasonfoundation.com for more information or contact Heather Burdine, Executive Assistant, The Jason Foundation, Inc. at 181 East Main Street, Suite 5, Hendersonville, TN. 37075 or phone 615-264-2323.
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Attorney General Buddy Caldwell stood in support as Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law the Jason Flatt Act. The Jason Flatt Act is a piece of legislation which passed unanimously in the Lousiana legislature. Louisiana is the second state in the nation, behind Tennessee, to enact this new law. The law requires educators to receive two hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training.
Attorney General Caldwell supported this legislation after meeting with the founder of the Jason Foundation, Clark Flatt. Flatt lost his teenage son, Jason, to suicide in 1997.
“Statistics show us, one out of every seven students in Louisiana had made a plan to commit suicide in the past twelve months,” said Caldwell. “And one out of every 12 students actually attempted suicide during the same period. I applaud the legislature and our Governor for passing this law, which could help save lives.”
Since Flatt’s loss in 1997, he has organized a national effort to combat the problem of young people taking their own life. His Jason Foundation is a non-profit group which provides comprehensive training to educators and parents on the warning signs of depression and suicide. Flatt has gained the support of more than 40 other attorney generals and numerous college and high school athletic coaches. These leaders act as ambassadors for the Jason Foundation and its efforts.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s website now has a link where parents and teachers can find valuable information that will help them identify the risk factors of depression and suicide. The website is www.agbuddycaldwell.com or you can sign on to the Jason Foundation at www.jasonfoundation.com for more information or contact Heather Burdine, Executive Assistant, The Jason Foundation, Inc. at 181 East Main Street, Suite 5, Hendersonville, TN. 37075 or phone 615-264-2323.
