Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 5–Committee on
Human Resources and Facilities

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

SENATE Concurrent RESOLUTION—Urging agencies in Clark County to cooperate in the establishment of a plan for suicide prevention in Clark County.

 

    Whereas, For the past 17 years, the State of Nevada has led the

 nation in the rate of suicide, consistently averaging twice the

 national rate; and

    Whereas, For the past 5 years, over 64 percent of completed

 suicides in our state occurred in Clark County, and during the year

 2000, the rate of suicide in Clark County, which contains almost 70

 percent of the State’s population, was 18.3 per 100,000, only

 slightly lower than the average for the entire State; and

    Whereas, An extensive survey of existing agencies for suicide

 prevention located within Clark County has revealed a substantial

 lack of programs for public awareness regarding suicide prevention

 and a definite need for development and improvement of the

 quantity and range of services offered for suicide prevention

 throughout Clark County; and

    Whereas, The survey also made apparent the need for a greater

 degree of coordination and communication among existing

 agencies in Clark County that provide resources relating to suicide

 and the prevention of suicide; and

    Whereas, There is currently no organized effort in Clark

 County aimed at suicide prevention, and most of those employed in

 the health and injury prevention fields are not aware of any

 comprehensive list of resources relating to suicide prevention; and

    Whereas, Any serious attempt to reduce the rate of suicide in

 Clark County will require a strong effort through the cooperation

 and coordination of agencies in the County to achieve a countywide

 coalition and partnership that can be an important component of an

 overall statewide strategy; now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

 Assembly Concurring, That governmental and

 nongovernmental agencies in Clark County, including, without

 limitation, the Clark County Board of Commissioners, the Clark

 County Health District, mental health agencies, social service

 agencies, churches, public health clinics, school districts, law

 enforcement agencies, emergency medical personnel, providers of

 health care and other similar community organizations and groups

 within Clark County, are hereby urged to cooperate in the

 establishment of a coordinated, comprehensive plan for suicide

 prevention for the communities within the County; and be it further

    Resolved, That the plan provide for effective and diverse

programs for suicide prevention which can be implemented in the

 communities of Clark County, including, without limitation,

 programs that will:

    1.  Through evidence-based methods, reduce risk factors and

 enhance protective factors for suicidal behavior in persons of all

 ages;

    2.  Distribute educational materials which will increase the

 awareness of and reduce the stigma associated with suicide;

    3.  Create a telephone hot line for suicide prevention which is

 operated 24 hours per day, accredited or certified by a nationally

 recognized organization in the field of suicide prevention, and

 supported by existing funding for programs for suicide prevention

 by local governments in Clark County;

    4.  Refer persons who are at risk of committing suicide to

 services through which they can obtain appropriate assistance;

    5.  Develop a Clark County resource directory or an Internet

 website, or both, for suicide prevention and for assistance for

 survivors of suicide;

    6.  Train first responders and persons who regularly come into

 contact with persons or families in distress, such as clergy, police

 officers, emergency medical personnel, primary health care

 providers, mental health providers and school personnel;

    7.  Educate the public through the news media and distribution

 of guidelines regarding the availability of related services; and

    8.  Provide appropriate services to survivors of suicide; and be

 it further

    Resolved, That the funding for these programs include a

 combination of nongovernmental support as well as support from

 federal, state and local governmental sources; and be it further

    Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and

 transmit a copy of this resolution to the Clark County Board of

 Commissioners, Clark County Health District, Clark County Social

 Services, Suicide Prevention Center of Clark County, Nevada

 Public Health Foundation, Nevada Chapter of the American

 Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Action

 Network USA, Inc., Nevada Hospital Association, Psychiatric

 Emergency Services, Senior Mental Health Outreach Program,

 Elder Abuse and Neglect Unit of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

 Department, Lake Mead Geropsych Unit, Valley Hospital

 Geropsych Unit, Montevista Hospital, Southern Nevada Health

 Care System of the Veterans’ Health Administration, Director of

 the Department of Human Resources, Ombudsman for Aging

 Persons of the Aging Services Division of the Department of

 Human Resources, Administrator of the Health Division of the

 Department of Human Resources, Agency Director of the Southern

 Nevada Adult Mental Health

Services of the Division of Mental Health and Developmental

Services of the Department of Human Resources, and Administrator

 of the Division of Child and Family Services of the Department of

 Human Resources.

 

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