Georgia bill would put 988 hotline on student ID badges

Lawmakers and local leaders support effort to increase mental health awareness among students

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A bill aimed at increasing mental health awareness among students is gaining support at the state capitol.

House Bill 1045, known as the You Are Not Alone Awareness Act, would require public schools to place the 988 suicide and crisis hotline number on student ID badges.

State Representative Tangie Herring says the goal is to make sure students and their families know help is always available.

“We want to just make sure that our students are aware there are resources out there and also our families are aware of it,” she said. “We’ve lost two young people in Middle Georgia to suicide, and we want to make sure our students have a reminder that they are not alone, there is hope for a better tomorrow, and whatever we can do to help support them and their families we want to do as a state.”

Herring says the effort is personal and is shaped by her experience as an educator.

“Being an educator, I’ve seen over time how students are dealing with anxiety, depression,” she said.

Local law enforcement leaders are backing the bill, calling it a common sense step.

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis testified before the Georgia General Assembly in support of the measure.

“This 988, having it on their ID card sort of raises their awareness and it shows them that somebody cares, and that somebody will be there to help them in need,” he said.

Sheriff Davis says the 988 hotline works alongside their co-responders program, which responds to mental health related calls.

Supporters say something as simple as a number on an ID could help connect students to life saving resources.

If you are having mental health struggles or just need to chat, call or text 988. You can find more information online.