House Bill 100 (151st General Assembly) – This bill establishes a mental health services unit for Delaware elementary schools, allowing for schools to hire one full-time school counselor, school social worker, or licensed clinical social worker for every 250 students in grades kindergarten through fifth. It also would allow the hiring of one full-time school psychologist or licensed mental health therapist for every 700 elementary school students.
This bill will address the disparity and shortfall of mental health professionals in Delaware elementary schools. For far too long, the mental health of our students has been treated as a secondary need – if even that much. The truth is, the mental health of our young students is vital to them growing, learning and becoming successful adults. This pandemic has only magnified the need to put our students’ mental wellness at the front of the line.
According to the CDC, one in six U.S. children aged 2-8 years had a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, such as depression, ADHD, anxiety and other behavioral problems. Untreated mental illness can lead to increased risk of dropout, homelessness, substance abuse, other chronic illnesses, incarceration, and possibly suicide.
House Bill 35 (151st General Assembly) – Each year behavioral health professionals devote themselves to the care of those needing assistance. This assistance ranges from physical health to mental health, and behavioral health to emotional health. The assistance of these professionals is crucial to the well-being of those seeking support.
This act institutes a Behavioral Health Professional of the Year Award Program throughout the state of Delaware. Through this program, the state will formally honor and recognize the work of behavioral health professionals, among whom are school counselors, social workers, licensed clinical social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses. This award will provide professionals with funds they can utilize to further their education, as well as necessities for their pupils, such as notebooks, paints, and even visiting artists.
These professionals selflessly devote themselves to those needing help, and this is one way we can give back to those who have done so much to help us.
House Resolution 17 (151st General Assembly) – This resolution establishes the Behavioral Health Crisis Care Task Force to study and make findings and recommendations regarding creating a behavioral health crisis care system in this State.
The task force will take a deep dive into crisis services and behavioral health to make recommendations for a comprehensive behavioral health crisis care system in Delaware. This task force will take into consideration a wide range of views and is comprised of lawmakers, police chiefs, the directors of both the Division of Social Services and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Emergency Center Directors from each county, and the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Council.
House Concurrent Resolution 28 (151st General Assembly) – This resolution that highlights the work of the New Castle County Police Department Behavioral Health Unit and urges law enforcement agencies throughout the State to adopt a similar unit.
The New Castle County Police Department’s Behavioral Health Unit has helped hundreds of individuals get much-needed addiction and mental health treatment by pairing a mental health professional with an officer to respond to specific emergency calls. This model of care helps officers effectively and safety de-escalate situations and provides communities with more comprehensive support.
House Bill 55 (151st General Assembly) – Implements Gun Shop Project suicide prevention initiative. In 2009, New Hampshire was the first state to develop a statewide Gun Shop Project, reaching out to gun shops regarding the role they can play in suicide prevention. In the years since, at least 21 other states have implemented similar campaigns. The Gun Shop Project’s primary purpose is to develop, create, and provide suicide prevention education materials and training, to be made available for dealers and consumers of licensed deadly weapons in Delaware. The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition will oversee the Gun Shop Project and include the Project’s annual report in the Coalition’s annual report.
House Concurrent Resolution 26 (151st General Assembly) – This resolution recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Because mental illness is often invisible, less than half of those struggling receive the help they need. It is my hope that by raising awareness of this important facet of our overall health, we can begin to shed the stigma and give Delawareans the resources they need to live happier, healthier, more productive lives.
House Bill 90 (148th General Assembly) – Requires all public school employees receive 90 minutes of training each year on suicide prevention; Requires all public schools to establish a suicide prevention committee; Requires local education agencies to create a suicide prevention policy.
Senate Bill 197 (148th General Assembly) – Requires physicians to educate prenatal patients and families on the warning signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. Maternal depression is a widespread issue that affects nearly a third of new mothers.
House Concurrent Resolution 84 (148th General Assembly) – Recognizes June 7 through June 28, 2016, as the “22 in 22 Challenge” in the State of Delaware and encourages all Delawareans to learn about and raise awareness of veteran suicide.