ACTION ALERT: Tell the House to VOTE FOR SB 7026

Contact your House member now!

The Florida House may vote as early as Wednesday, March 7, on SB 7026 dealing with school safety. It includes important provisions for student mental health.

Certain special interests are trying to kill this bill and it's going to be a very close vote.

YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

PLEASE call or email your House member and urge them to vote in favor of SB 7026. Click here to find out the name of your House member.

Sample emails

Dear Representative _______,

I'm writing to urge you to vote in favor of SB 7026. As a mental health advocate, I believe this bill will make it possible for students with mental health challenges and mental illness to get identified and treated.

Here are some reasons why we want the bill to pass (pick one or two from the reasons below).

(Insert a personal story, if you want).

Thank you for your consideration.

Name

Address**

NAMI Affiliate

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Representative ________________,

I'm writing to ask your support of SB 7026, which contains very important provisions that would help schools get mental health services to students who need it.

According to the Institute for Mental Health, 75 percent of all lifetime cases of chronic mental illness have symptoms that appear as early as age 14. It takes on average 8 to 10 years for diagnosis and treatment.

SB 7026 could change that.

(Insert a couple reasons from below)

(Add a personal story)

Thank you for your vote in favor of SB 7026.

Sincerely,

Name

Address**

NAMI Affiliate

** include your address so the House member knows you live in his/her district

Reasons to support SB 7026

School districts could contract with Community Action Treatment (CAT) teams and creates them in at least 33 counties. CAT teams would provide intervention for students exhibiting serious emotional disturbances and signs of mental illness.

Schools would be required to conduct public awareness programs that teach all students and teachers to recognize the signs of mental illness and how to get help.

Schools would have intervention protocols (such as mobile crisis units) for students experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

Schools would be required to hire or contract with community providers for mental health assessments, treatment, diagnoses, intervention and recovery services to students at high risk of a mental health or substance abuse diagnosis.

With regard to firearms:

Language that stigmatized individuals with mental illness has been removed. Evidence of a serious mental illness or a pattern or mental health problems would be one of many reasons why law enforcement could petition the court to remove firearms from an individual.

Law enforcement could remove firearms from anyone exhibiting violent behavior, which is a key predictor of future violent behavior.

Teachers would not be armed.

Join our efforts!

NAMI provides public awareness, education, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness. We need more voices in our efforts!

NAMI memberships start as low as $5 ( click here).

When you join NAMI, you'll get discounts at our state and national conferences, special members-only emails about the Florida Legislature, and more.

You CAN make a difference!

Our Board of Directors

Dr. Fatimah Tahil - President

Cindy Foster - Vice President

Diana Schmidt - Second Vice President

Kya Connor - Secretary

Diana Williams - Treasurer

April Chambers

Paul Gormley

Kelley Lesperance

Cindy Schwartz

Dr. Rajiv Tandon -- Ex Officio

Alisa LaPolt - Executive Director

NAMI Florida, Inc.

P.O. Box 961

Tallahassee, FL 32302

[email protected]

(850) 671-4445

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