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South Carolina Governor Adds Mental Health Resources to Student IDs

July 26, 2021 by Ansley Puckett
FILE - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster talks about vaccine distribution and abortion during a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. Congress just sweetened the incentives for states to extend Medicaid insurance coverage to more low-income adults, but the dozen Republican-controlled states that have spent years resisting expanding the programs have no plans to change course now. “Gov. McMaster isn’t for sale, regardless of whatever ill-conceived ‘incentives’ congressional democrats may come up with,” spokesman Brian Symmes said in a statement. “What the federal spending plan does is attempt to offer a short term solution for a long term problem.” (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, file)

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed the Student Identification Card Suicide Prevention Act, requiring public and private schools in the state to provide a crisis hotline resource of their choosing on student ID card.

“This law not only provides our students with easy access to a vital resource, it will also serve as a daily reminder that they are not alone,” McMaster said in a written statement. 

The additional resource on each ID card will be the social media platform, telephone number, or text number that the school feels best fits their needs. 

McMaster was joined at the signing of the bill by South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela S. Evette, members of the General Assembly and other state leaders during the ceremonial bill signing.   

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of over 180 local crisis centers and provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week across the country.  

“On the surface, this bill just looks like a number on the back of an ID card, but in reality, it is a lifeline,” said the Director of S.C. Department of Mental Health Ken Rogers. “It is something that young people will be able to look at and know there is a number to call to get help.” 

South Carolina is the ninth state to pass student identification card suicide prevention legislation.  

“The pressures of society are even stronger now than they have ever been,” Evette said. “This number will give our parents peace of mind in knowing that our children have the resources they need to reach out to get good, safe advice.” 

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