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Governor Newsom signs legislation by Assemblymember Berman to permanently establish a free online suicide prevention training statewide for students, teachers, staff, and families

July 18, 2026 - SACRAMENTO, CA – On Thursday Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2003, a crucial effort to address the youth mental health crisis in California and ensure all young people have the support they need to thrive. 

Related: California Assemblymember Marc Berman Secures Funding for Youth Mental Health Resources. Suicide Remains the Second-Leading Cause of Death For Youth Ages 10-25 in California, and Rates Have Increased Over the Last Two Decades.

This new law, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D- Menlo Park), will permanently provide free online suicide prevention training statewide for all students 13 and older as well as all K-12 teachers, administrators and families.

“We must do everything we possibly can to prevent youth suicide in California. That includes ensuring that every level of a student’s support network – their friends, their teachers, and their parents – have the knowledge, tools, and resources to recognize the warning signs and feel confident in supporting youth in their life who need help,” said Assemblymember Marc Berman. “Too many communities all across California, including ones I represent, have felt the devastation and grief of youth suicide. I thank Governor Newsom for signing this legislation to support proven solutions and prioritize the needs of young people in California.”

Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death for youth ages 10-25 in California, and rates have increased over the last two decades. Year after year, more youth die by suicide than motor vehicle accidents.

“The signing of AB 2003 marks an important step forward in California’s efforts to prevent youth suicide and better equip school communities with the tools to recognize warning signs and respond early. We are grateful to Assemblymember Berman for his leadership and proud to partner with him and with the California Youth Empowerment Network in advancing this critical work. The Commission is committed to helping turn this vision into action through the development of accessible, evidence-informed training that supports students, families, and educators across the state,” said Al Rowlett, Chair, Commission for Behavioral Health.

AB 2003, which will go into effect immediately, builds upon a previous online suicide prevention training program that Assemblymember Berman obtained funding for through the budget in 2018. That pilot program was offered to middle and high school students and staff and ran from June 2020 to December 2024.

This previous training reached more than 20,000 middle and high school students and staff in California and the results were overwhelmingly positive. After completing the training, 98% of staff and 95% of students felt confident in their ability to help someone who might be considering suicide. 96% of students reported knowing how to access resources if they were struggling with thoughts of suicide. Many participants – about 1 in 4 students and staff – already had someone in mind to whom they could apply their new life-saving skills.

“Thank you, Governor Newsom, for signing AB 2003. This bill will help save lives. Time and time again youth across California report that if they would had known the signs of suicide, maybe they could have gotten help from a trusted adult and played a role in preventing friends from taking their own lives,” said Alondra Garcia-Perez, with the California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN). 

In addition to providing permanent training, this new law would also compile suicide risk screening data statewide. This could help inform policy, prevention planning and strategies, and support.

Students, parents, and families across the state will soon have access to this life-saving training and the essential data needed to combat the youth suicide crisis. The suicide prevention training is anticipated to be available in Spring 2027.

Source: Assemblymember Marc Berman