June 18, 2015
New Jersey lawmakers will consider Thursday two bills inspired by a New Jersey teen's high-profile suicide last year, NJ.com reports.
Madison Holleran, a 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student and track athlete, jumped off a parking garage to her death near the school on Jan. 17, 2014. The Bergen County resident suffered from depression, which ultimately led her to take her life, her parents said.
The prevention act would require colleges and universities to have health care professionals who specialize in reducing student suicides and attempted suicides available 24 hours a day. The reporting act would require schools to post information on student suicides and attempted suicides on their websites.
Holleran's fifth-grade teacher Ed Modica proposed the bills to legislators after he created petitions and gathered signatures in support of his proposal.
A suicide prevention foundation was created in Holleran's name.
