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

 

(On Behalf of the Legislative Committee to
Study Suicide Prevention)

 

February 10, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Urges agencies in Clark County to cooperate in establishment of plan for suicide prevention in Clark County. (BDR R‑289)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

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

 

1-1  Whereas, For the past 17 years, the State of Nevada has led the

1-2  nation in the rate of suicide, consistently averaging twice the

1-3  national rate; and

1-4  Whereas, For the past 5 years, over 64 percent of completed

1-5  suicides in our state occurred in Clark County, and during the year

1-6  2000, the rate of suicide in Clark County, which contains almost 70

1-7  percent of the State’s population, was 18.3 per 100,000, only

1-8  slightly lower than the average for the entire State; and

1-9  Whereas, An extensive survey of existing agencies for suicide

1-10  prevention located within Clark County has revealed a substantial

1-11  lack of programs for public awareness regarding suicide prevention

1-12  and a definite need for development and improvement of the

1-13  quantity and range of services offered for suicide prevention

1-14  throughout Clark County; and

1-15      Whereas, The survey also made apparent the need for a greater

1-16  degree of coordination and communication among existing agencies

1-17  in Clark County that provide resources relating to suicide and the

1-18  prevention of suicide; and

1-19      Whereas, There is currently no organized effort in Clark

1-20  County aimed at suicide prevention, and most of those employed in

2-1  the health and injury prevention fields are not aware of any

2-2  comprehensive list of resources relating to suicide prevention; and

2-3  Whereas, Any serious attempt to reduce the rate of suicide in

2-4  Clark County will require a strong effort through the cooperation

2-5  and coordination of agencies in the County to achieve a countywide

2-6  coalition and partnership that can be an important component of an

2-7  overall statewide strategy; now, therefore, be it

2-8  Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

2-9  Assembly Concurring, That governmental and nongovernmental

2-10  agencies in Clark County, including, without limitation, the Clark

2-11  County Board of Commissioners, the Clark County Health District,

2-12  mental health agencies, social service agencies, churches, public

2-13  health clinics, school districts, law enforcement agencies,

2-14  emergency medical personnel, providers of health care and other

2-15  similar community organizations and groups within Clark County,

2-16  are hereby urged to cooperate in the establishment of a coordinated,

2-17  comprehensive plan for suicide prevention for the communities

2-18  within the County; and be it further

2-19      Resolved, That the plan provide for effective and diverse

2-20  programs for suicide prevention which can be implemented in the

2-21  communities of Clark County, including, without limitation,

2-22  programs that will:

2-23      1.  Through evidence-based methods, reduce risk factors and

2-24  enhance protective factors for suicidal behavior in persons of all

2-25  ages;

2-26      2.  Distribute educational materials which will increase the

2-27  awareness of and reduce the stigma associated with suicide;

2-28      3.  Create a telephone hot line for suicide prevention which is

2-29  operated 24 hours per day, accredited or certified by a nationally

2-30  recognized organization in the field of suicide prevention, and

2-31  supported by existing funding for programs for suicide prevention

2-32  by local governments in Clark County;

2-33      4.  Refer persons who are at risk of committing suicide to

2-34  services through which they can obtain appropriate assistance;

2-35      5.  Develop a Clark County resource directory or an Internet

2-36  website, or both, for suicide prevention and for assistance for

2-37  survivors of suicide;

2-38      6.  Train first responders and persons who regularly come into

2-39  contact with persons or families in distress, such as clergy, police

2-40  officers, emergency medical personnel, primary health care

2-41  providers, mental health providers and school personnel;

2-42      7.  Educate the public through the news media and distribution

2-43  of guidelines regarding the availability of related services; and

2-44      8.  Provide appropriate services to survivors of suicide; and be

2-45  it further

3-1  Resolved, That the funding for these programs include a

3-2  combination of nongovernmental support as well as support from

3-3  federal, state and local governmental sources; and be it further

3-4  Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and

3-5  transmit a copy of this resolution to the Clark County Board of

3-6  Commissioners, Clark County Health District, Clark County Social

3-7  Services, Suicide Prevention Center of Clark County, Nevada Public

3-8  Health Foundation, Nevada Chapter of the American Foundation for

3-9  Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Inc.,

3-10  Nevada Hospital Association, Psychiatric Emergency Services,

3-11  Senior Mental Health Outreach Program, Elder Abuse and Neglect

3-12  Unit of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Lake Mead

3-13  Geropsych Unit, Valley Hospital Geropsych Unit, Montevista

3-14  Hospital, Southern Nevada Health Care System of the Veterans’

3-15  Health Administration, Director of the Department of Human

3-16  Resources, Ombudsman for Aging Persons of the Aging Services

3-17  Division of the Department of Human Resources, Administrator of

3-18  the Health Division of the Department of Human Resources,

3-19  Agency Director of the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health

3-20  Services of the Division of Mental Health and Developmental

3-21  Services of the Department of Human Resources, and Administrator

3-22  of the Division of Child and Family Services of the Department of

3-23  Human Resources.

 

3-24  H