HCS SB 618 -- SUICIDE PREVENTION

CO-SPONSORS:  Kennedy, Shields (Johnson, 61)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Health Care Policy by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute requires the Director of the Department of Mental
Health, in partnership with the Department of Health and Senior
Services, to design and develop a state suicide prevention plan
in collaboration with the departments of Social Services,
Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, and
Corrections.  The plan must:

(1)  Promote the use of employee assistance and workplace
programs to support employees experiencing depression or other
psychiatric illnesses;

(2)  Promote the use of student assistance and educational
programs to support students with depression and other
psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders;

(3)  Provide training and technical assistance to local public
health and other community-based professionals on the best
practices to prevent suicides;

(4)  Coordinate federal, state, and local agencies in order to
collect and analyze data on suicides and suicidal behaviors in
Missouri and annually issue a public report;

(5)  Provide assistance for health care providers and family
members who are caring for persons at risk for suicide or
assisted suicide because of a mental health or medical condition.
Assistance will include methodologies for providing pain
management and emotional support;

(6)  Establish a toll-free suicide prevention hotline; and

(7)  Recommend statutory changes and implementation and funding
requirements to the General Assembly by December 31, 2004.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that attempted suicides and suicides
are a growing public health problem in the United States and in
Missouri, resulting in increased health care costs and emotional
and economic losses experienced by affected families.  The bill
will provide for an effective and coordinated plan to prevent
suicides in Missouri.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Kennedy; Campaign Life of
Missouri; and Missouri Catholic Conference.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:13 am