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Tennessee House honors youth mental-health advocates after family testimony about teen suicide
Summary
The House adopted a resolution honoring groups tackling adolescent mental health and heard emotional testimony from Avery Keller, whose daughter died by suicide; Jason Foundation president Clark Flatt told lawmakers Tennessee is a model for suicide-prevention work.
The Tennessee House adopted House Resolution 1053 on the chamber floor to honor individuals and organizations working to address adolescent mental health, bullying and the harmful effects of social media.
Representative Sparks introduced the resolution and invited advocates to the well. Avery Keller, who helped found the "We Live for Riv" movement after his daughter's death, described her as a 14-year-old and said social-media posts preceded the tragedy: "She had committed suicide. She was just 14 years old," Keller said, recounting what he described as a disturbing pattern of posts and a final message that signaled imminent self-harm. Keller told lawmakers he has spoken to hundreds of students and said "about 40% of those kids will raise their hand and say they feel inadequate. They feel like killing themselves." He urged collective action to reach young people.
Clark Flatt, president of the Jason Foundation, thanked legislators for their support and described Tennessee as "a model. We're a template" for other states developing suicide-awareness and prevention programs. Flatt said work by nonprofits, schools and state agencies has expanded resources and saved lives.
The resolution cites organizations named in debate — including the Jason Foundation and the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network — and highlights the 988 Lifeline as a central resource. Lawmakers marked the day to recognize advocacy, raise awareness and encourage coordination among education and health agencies.
The House adopted the resolution without recorded opposition. The chamber did not take further formal policy action on mental-health funding during the session recorded in this transcript.
