Office of the Secretary of Higher EducationOn July 22, 2025, former Governor Murphy signed a law requiring all student identification cards to have updated information on mental health and suicide crisis resources. With the start of the 2026-27 academic year approaching, see guidance from the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJ DHS) and a link to their full letter below:
Student identification cards are now required by law to have updated information on mental health and suicide crisis resources beginning this upcoming school or academic year. This applies to a public school that includes any of the grades seven through 12 and that issues student identification cards and institutions of higher education that issue student identification cards. The new law permits the information to be determined by the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education. This accounts for the rollout of 988 and provides future flexibility without changing statute.
988 is the nationwide 3-digit dialing code and response network for Mental Health Crisis and Suicide Prevention. 988 is available by call, text or chat 24 hours a day, every day of the year and connects people to a continuum of care.
The information listed on the back of applicable student identification cards shall include:
“Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call, Text, Chat 988. (Chat.988lifeline.org)”
Understanding that formatting and available space on identification cards may be challenging, institutions should incorporate the number and information as best as possible.
Please review the updated March 2026 letter from NJ DHS:
Official Site of The State of New Jersey