The best way to cure a spreading problem is to attack it at its roots. At least in Illinois, the recent string of teen-age suicides is being treated in this manner.

The state took a giant step forward Thursday in its efforts to combat the problem by seriously considering a bill that would require the training of public school teachers to spot troubled teens considering suicide.

The bill has some red tape to cut through before it becomes law, but the fact that it was unanimously approved by a state House committee proves that Illinois is taking the problem seriously, and approaching it in a reasonable manner.

Under the bill, teachers would be drilled at regional training institutes to recognize the warning signs of possible suicides. Those students then would be referred to counselors, who would use their professional training to sway the students out of their decision.

The bill has ignited reactions that the action might be too little and too late, referring to the fact that teen-age suicides in the state jumped from 56 in 1984 to 83 in 1985. That cannot be denied, but complaining about the past does nothing to cure the problem. Concentration should be on future solutions to curb those statistics.

And teachers are the perfect target for a start on such a cure. Although parents also should seek information about warning signs, teachers sometimes come in more contact on a daily basis than parents do. Teachers are able to view teens from a broader perspective because they see them in a larger variety of situations. They have the chance to actually observe the teen interacting with his peers or, as the case might be, not interacting at all.

A teen can paint a pretty picture to his parents about his social or academic behavior at school to pretend he is living up to the family’s standards. It would be much harder to pull such an act on teachers who can testify to his activities every day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The bill might not be a perfect solution to the gigantic problem, but it can’t hurt. If only one suicide is prevented through the mandatory program, then the state at least has done its part to help. That’s better than nothing at all.