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Bill to update school suicide‑prevention guidance adds gambling awareness after advocates cite links to youth harm
Summary
Senate Bill 310 would modernize Maryland’s youth suicide prevention school program and explicitly add gambling addiction to recommended awareness guidance. Sponsors and public health advocates told the committee they want schools to be allowed—voluntarily—to include education on gambling harms amid rising adolescent participation in gambling.
Sen. Simon Ayre introduced Senate Bill 310 as a consensus, non‑mandating update to Maryland—s youth suicide prevention school guidance, telling the committee the bill aligns program materials with the state Blueprint for Maryland—s Future and updates language that has not been revised since the late 1990s.
The bill would encourage local school systems to include gambling addiction in awareness and prevention guidance because witnesses argued gambling carries elevated suicide risk and adolescents have high rates of early onset. Anna Kate Cagle, a student attorney with the University of Maryland Public Health Law Clinic, told the committee that “approximately 50 percent of gamblers experience suicidal ideation and 20 percent in treatment for gambling disorder attempt suicide.” She added that adolescents are “4 times more likely than adults to develop a gambling addiction,” and that the average age a child first gambles is about 12—earlier than first use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, she said.
Sen. Eyre said the bill is voluntary for LEAs, contains no mandates, and carries no fiscal impact, and he noted broad support from stakeholders including the Departments of Health and Education, mental‑health groups and even gaming operators. He described the measure as “a small step to bring more awareness and recognition of the potential issues of youth gambling and suicide.”
Committee members raised questions about curriculum design and whether education about suicide could inadvertently increase risk in some students. Delegate Hornberger asked whether increased awareness can ever raise suicide risk in certain cohorts. Supporters replied the bill does not prescribe a curriculum; rather, it updates an optional statewide program and leaves content development to the Maryland State Department of Education and local districts based on evidence and best practices. Senator Eyre said the program is already optional and the bill merely adds gambling to the list of topics LEAs may include.
Witnesses pointed to state survey data (2022) showing roughly 17% of Maryland high school students reported gambling on sports, the internet or games; advocates said education reduces the frequency and severity of harmful gambling behavior and is a necessary preventive step.
The bill’s sponsor asked for a favorable report; supporters urged the committee to adopt the change to reflect evolving risks and the expansion of legal and internet‑based gambling options available to youth.
