As a father of six, I can’t imagine the heartbreak of losing a child to suicide. Yet in Iowa, too many families have faced that unthinkable loss.
Right now, suicide is the third leading cause of death for Iowans aged 10 to 24. This is a wake-up call. Every young life lost is a preventable tragedy, and every life matters.
The problem: Warning signs often show themselves in the classroom, but too many teachers aren’t trained to spot when a student is in crisis — and by the time someone realizes, it’s too late.
That’s why we’re leading the Prevent Youth Suicide Act, a bipartisan bill that would:
✅ Train teachers and school staff members to recognize early warning signs
✅ Give schools the tools to intervene before a crisis turns into a tragedy
✅ Build classroom environments where every student feels seen, supported, and safe
Bottom Line: No parent should ever lose a child to suicide. By empowering educators to act early, we can save lives and give Iowa kids the support they deserve.