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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 83
BY SENATOR NEVERS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural
and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors for the University of
Louisiana System, and the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical
Colleges consider incorporating and including, where possible, in their schools
disciplines and degree programs, particularly in those programs related to physical
and behavioral health, education and criminal justice, suicide assessment,
intervention, treatment, and management training that meets the Suicide Prevention
Resource Center best practices standards.
WHEREAS, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States of
America; and
WHEREAS, suicide kills more people in this country each year than car accidents;
and
WHEREAS, in 2012, twelve out of every one hundred thousand people in Louisiana
committed suicide; and
WHEREAS, early detection and competent care in the treatment of suicidal thoughts
can save lives; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, a study conducted in the state of Georgia demonstrated that a
group of mental health professionals without best practices suicide prevention training
demonstrated a nine-percent group average competency rate in suicide assessment and
intervention, and, after only a minimal number of hours of such empirically supported
training, the group's average competency rate in suicide assessment and intervention rose to
eighty-nine percent; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals is currently making
available to many state agency personnel best practices, empirically supported training in
suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management; and SCR NO. 83 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, many evidence-based, successful suicide prevention training programs
are available online and otherwise at minimal cost through organizations such as the
nationally recognized Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention; and
WHEREAS, not only Louisiana's medical professionals, but also other professions
such as educators and law enforcement and other citizen groups, such as students, could
benefit from such suicide assessment, intervention, treatment and management training.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural
and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural
and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System,
and the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges consider incorporating
and including, where possible, in their schools disciplines and degree programs, particularly
in those programs related to physical and behavioral health, education and criminal justice,
suicide assessment, intervention, treatment, and management training that meets the Suicide
Prevention Resource Center best practices standards.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and
Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and
Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and
the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES