Pa. Senate approves license plate to support mental health, inspired by York County teen’s story

A local father’s story of loss and advocacy inspired newly approved state legislation to create a special license plate aimed at raising awareness for mental health support in Pennsylvania.

Under Senate Bill 955, passed in early October, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will establish a new specialty license plate, where $15 from every plate will be deposited into the Mental Health Restricted Account, helping to fund Pennsylvania’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York Township, who was moved after speaking with Matt Dorgan, of Dallastown, who lost his daughter, Brianna, to suicide in 2020 when she was just 15 years old.

A year later, he founded Building Bridges for Brianna, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting suicide awareness and prevention. The nonprofit provides resources for families coping with loss and support for individuals struggling with mental health challenges.

“When Matt Dorgan shared with me the heartbreaking loss of his daughter, Brianna, and his ongoing effort to raise awareness and funding for better mental health support in Pennsylvania, we were able to find a way to honor her life and address an issue that touches so many families across our commonwealth,” Phillips-Hill said.

“This bill was inspired by a father’s unimaginable loss and his unwavering commitment to turn grief into action,” Phillips-Hill expressed before the Senate. “This license plate will not only raise awareness for mental health but will directly contribute to saving lives.”

Individuals experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use concerns, or simply in need of someone to talk to can call the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.