BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho law requiring parental consent for health services is limiting how crisis responders can help young people who call the state's suicide hotline, according to the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline.
Under the Parental Rights Act , which took effect more than a year ago, parents must approve medical and mental health care for their children unless they have already given consent or the child's life is in immediate danger.
"Idaho law, it has a very high threshold for what an emergency is," hotline director Lee Flinn said.
Because of that threshold, Flinn said the hotline is limited in its ability to help some children and teens who call 988.
"Maybe they're feeling suicidal, but maybe they don't have a plan for suicide. Maybe they don't have access to lethal means