On Friday Centennial Mental Health announced it is collaborating with NJC administrators on the layout of the new IDs. Centennial’s Prevention Services Program Manager and Suicide Prevention Collation of Colorado’s Advocacy Chair Maranda Miller said the change could be a life-saver for some college students.
“By complying with this new legislation, NJC is setting the stage for their students to have the supports they need at hand and even possibly change the trajectory for students in need of lifesaving support,” Miller said. “This ‘transition age adult’ population sees high rates of suicide and increased stress as a result of gaining more independence and moving away from trusted adults and resources. Having quick access to state, national and local resources for all students in Colorado who may be in a non-crisis and crisis situation will save lives and normalize accessing supports.”
The 988 crisis hotline was made available in Colorado by an act of the Legislature in 2021. During the recently-ended 2023 session, the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado introduced a bill that would require all post-secondary schools to print the phone number for Colorado Crisis Services, the new 988 national crisis line and any local crisis supports on the back of student IDs by Aug. 1, 2023.
The bipartisan bill was sponsored in the House by Reps. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, and Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. In the Senate, Sens. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling and Dylan Roberts, D-Steamboat Springs, signed on as sponsors. The bill was signed by Gov. Jared Polis on March 17, 2023.