HB 59 -- Suicide Prevention

Sponsor:  Johnson (61)

This bill requires the Director of the Department of Mental
Health to design and implement 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 director is required to:

(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 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; and

(5)  Conduct periodic evaluations of the effect of the
implementation of the suicide prevention program.

By July 1, 2004, and each July 1 of even-numbered years
thereafter, the director is required to report the results of the
evaluation to the chairs of the House Children, Families and
Health Committee and the Senate Aging, Families and Mental Health
Committee, or their successor committees.

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