The Montana House of Representatives has rejected a bill that would use state funding to support free mental health screenings in schools, KSEN reported Feb. 20.
Lawmakers said they rejected the bill, sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Karlen, because a statewide suicide prevention program and coordinator is already in place.
Gov. Greg Gianforte recently gave $2.1 million to the Rural Behavioral Health Institute to fund a school screening initiative similar to the one proposed in the bill.
Montana currently has one of the highest suicide rates in the country and has a youth suicide rate that is double the national average, according to the report.