Jean Lewandowski of Nashua is PAIMI Advisory Council chair. Deborah Yuknewicz-Boisvert of Dover is PAIMI Advisory Council vice chair. Residents of NH seeking advice, support, or legal assistance concerning the rights of people with disabilities can contact DRC-NH at drcnh.org.

The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council (PAC) has been made aware of legislation that undermines one of our priorities: to advance policies and practices that support children’s mental health and protect those who are most vulnerable.

PAIMI is part of the Disability Rights Center New Hampshire. DRC-NH’s mission is to protect, advance, and strengthen the legal rights of all people with disabilities. The PAC is a council of volunteers from around the state who have lived experience and/or expertise in health care, education, and legal services relating to mental health.

We are very disappointed that the Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 3-2 against supporting SB 265. This bill funds multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), a program that’s proven for decades to increase student attendance and academic achievement, while decreasing behavioral problems, and providing special services for those who need it.

The foundation of this program is creating an educational environment based on trust and respect for every individual and for education.

New Hampshire began piloting MTSS as the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative 10 years ago, and it has now been adopted by 20 school districts. Educators and parents on the PAC have seen first-hand how MTSS improves school climate, encourages collaboration with staff, parents, and communities, and improves academic and behavioral outcomes at all grade levels. Failure to continue financing this program means weakening that network of support.

At the same time, the Legislature is considering several bills that would undermine the work of programs like Safe Schools/Healthy Students. We are especially concerned about those that put LGBTQIA+ students’ mental health at risk because social stigma and discrimination already make them more vulnerable to feelings of isolation and hopelessness.

SB 272 would require school personnel to divulge information to parents about students’ sexual orientation or gender identity shared with them in confidence or face civil liability and fines. Our education commissioner has already requested subpoena power to demand records from school employees.

Many people have testified in person that besides creating an atmosphere of secrecy and mistrust, these bills would limit students’ ability to pursue the process of coming out in a way that’s safest for them.

This bill and other similar bills considered by the Legislature this year are harmful to children, particularly children who are intersexual, non-binary, or transgender. For instance, a 2019 study in Adolescent Research Review reports that an analysis of previous studies identified several core factors that contribute to a reduction in depression, anxiety, and related mental health challenges that disproportionately affected LGBTQIA+ children.

“… the provision of a positive school climate where LGBTQIA+ youth can feel physically, emotionally and socially safe is vital for them to thrive during their adolescence and early adulthood.” (LGBTQI+ Youth and Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research | SpringerLink)

Healthy, collaborative environments nurture healthy children. Antagonistic, punitive environments do not. We urge readers to take heart from students and allies who have testified, and from the thousand-plus people who have registered their opposition to SB 272 and other dangerous bills.

We have a few weeks before final votes are taken to contact our senators and representatives, and Governor Sununu, to let them know we support continued funding of Safe Schools/Healthy Children. We can also register strong opposition to harmful bills like SB 272 in person, by phone, mail, the nh.gov portal, website, and email.

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