HB 269 -- Suicide Prevention

Sponsor:  Smith (118)

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

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

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

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

(4)  Coordinating with 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)  Establishing a toll-free suicide prevention hotline; and

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

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:11 am