VOTE – Would you support a student suicide prevention law?

You can never tell the pain that is masked by an adorable face.

Apparently Madison Holleran’s face hid an enormous amount of pain that led to her taking her own life by jumping off a parking garage at the school where she was a student.

By all accounts Holleran had everything going for her – a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania after a decorated high school career running track and playing soccer.

Except for one thing - the depression for which she sought help just weeks before taking her own life.

Hence an effort to prevent more suicides from happening was spearheaded by Ed Modica - the Totowa resident met Holleran when she was a fifth grader in one of his classes in the Allendale school district.

To that end, he hopes to prevent other suicides by putting together what he calls the Madison Holleran Law.

The law would require that:
1) colleges be required to publicly list the number suicides and attempted suicides on their campuses each year.
-and-
2) colleges be required to have certified suicide prevention counselors on staff.

In order for it to become law, a meeting was set up at the Wayne offices of Sen. Kevin O'Toole and Assemblyman Scott Rumana whose office said the bills were being drafted.

Modica was told that the proposal would probably have a chance of being considered if it were to be broken up into 2 separate bills.– the latter being the easier one to consider.

The Holleran family supports the efforts made by Modica, and to that end have set up a foundation in their daughter’s name to prevent further suicides from happening.
Holleran’s father James made a plea at her funeral for anyone suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts to seek immediate help, saying:

"This is not a weakness, but a struggle."

According to the Suicide Prevention Center, about 7 percent of undergrads seriously consider suicide.
A mix of academic demands, new financial responsibilities, social relationships and other anxieties can make college especially stressful.

Here’s what I wonder. Unless the potential suicide victim is willing to reach out to whatever resources are available, unfortunately no law – however well intentioned – is going to prevent that person from taking his or her own life.

However, should that reality justify doing nothing.

Do you support the Madison Holleran Law aimed at preventing suicides among college students?