SLS 14RS-2188 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 75
BY SENATOR NEVERS
HEALTH/HOSPITALS DEPT. Requests that DHH study and develop a list of best practices
suicide prevention training programs to make available in Louisiana to offer for training
groups of Louisiana professionals and citizens on a voluntary basis.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, through its office2
of behavioral health, to study and develop a list of suicide assessment, intervention,3
treatment, and management training programs meeting the Suicide Prevention4
Resource Center best practices standards to make available for access by medical5
professionals and the public in the state of Louisiana; that the department further6
develop a list of which other professional and citizen groups, beyond the medical7
professions, the department recommends should be offered such training on a8
voluntary basis; and that the department recommends how best to make such training9
widely accessible for use in Louisiana, through online access or otherwise.10
WHEREAS, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States of11
America; and 12
WHEREAS, suicide kills more people in this country each year than automobile13
accidents; and 14
WHEREAS, in 2012, twelve out of every one hundred thousand people in Louisiana15
committed suicide; and16
WHEREAS, early detection and competent care in the treatment of suicidal thoughts17
can save lives; and18 SCR NO. 75
SLS 14RS-2188 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, in 2005, a study conducted in the state of Georgia demonstrated that a1
group of mental health professionals without best practices suicide prevention training2
demonstrated a nine-percent group average competency rate in suicide assessment and3
intervention, and, after only a minimal number of hours of such empirically-supported4
training, the group's average competency rate in suicide assessment and intervention rose to5
eighty-nine percent; and 6
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is currently making7
available to many state agency personnel best practices, empirically-supported training in8
suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management; and 9
WHEREAS, many evidence-based, successful suicide prevention training programs10
are available online and otherwise at minimal cost through organizations such as the11
nationally recognized Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the American Foundation for12
Suicide Prevention; and 13
WHEREAS, in addition to Louisiana's medical professionals and professions such14
as educators and law enforcement, other civic or citizen groups, such as students, could15
benefit from such suicide assessment and intervention training. 16
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby17
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals, through its office of behavioral18
health, to study and develop a list of suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and19
management training programs meeting the Suicide Prevention Resource Center best20
practices standards to make available for access by medical professionals and the public in21
the state of Louisiana; that the department further develop a list of which other professional22
and citizen groups, beyond the medical professions, the department recommends should be23
offered such training on a voluntary basis; and that the department recommend how best to24
make such training widely accessible for use in Louisiana, through online access or25
otherwise.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge27
and request the Department of Health and Hospitals complete this study and deliver a written28
report with its findings and recommendations to the health and welfare committees of the29
Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives on or before January 1, 2015.30 SCR NO. 75
SLS 14RS-2188 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the1
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, and to the assistant secretary of2
Department of Health and Hospitals, office of behavioral health.3
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Julie J. Baxter.
DIGEST
Nevers SCR No. 75
Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals and the department's office of behavioral
health, study and develop a list of suicide assessment, intervention, treatment and
management training programs meeting the Suicide Prevention Resource Center best
practices standards to make available for access by medical professionals and the public in
the state; that the department further develop a list of which other professional and citizen
groups, beyond the medical professions, the department recommends should be offered such
training on a voluntary basis; and that the department recommend how best to make such
training widely accessible for use in Louisiana, through online access or otherwise.