SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee unanimously approved a bill Wednesday to improve access to suicide prevention services.

Sponsors said 988 information should be visible in county shelter care homes, daycares, public libraries, colleges, hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. This comes as more than 1,500 lives are lost to suicide in Illinois each year.

The legislation also requires school boards to include age-appropriate suicide prevention curriculum in health courses for students in sixth through 12th grade.

This proposal is named Tammurra's Act in memory of Tammy Bush's daughter.

"If even one young person learns to ask for help before despair takes over, then this bill would have done its job," Bush said.

The Illinois Department of Corrections would also be tasked with providing suicide prevention resources to people leaving prison. 

Senate Bill 2771 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. 

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