SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 13

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR MANN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 13: STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH: SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM.

THE CALIFORNIA SUICIDE PREVENTION ACT OF 2000 (ACT) AUTHORIZES THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH (DEPARTMENT), CONTINGENT UPON APPROPRIATION IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET ACT, TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A SUICIDE PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND GATEKEEPER EDUCATION PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY, DURATION, AND INCIDENCE OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS. THE ACT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT, IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THAT PROGRAM, TO UTILIZE THE EXPERTISE OF EXISTING SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT MEET SPECIFIED CRITERIA. THE ACT ALSO AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTRACT WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONALS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS RELATED TO SUICIDE PREVENTION.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF THE MEALS ON WHEELS MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM OPERATED BY REDWOOD COAST SENIORS, INCORPORATED. THIS MEASURE WOULD ALSO MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO REPLICATE THAT PROGRAM AS A MODEL FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS STATEWIDE AND TO SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR THE REPLICATION OF THAT PROGRAM.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 13: RELATING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION

WHEREAS, ADULTS OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE OF ANY AGE GROUP; AND

WHEREAS, AN OLDER ADULT COMMITS SUICIDE EVERY 90 MINUTES IN THE UNITED STATES; AND

WHEREAS, SUICIDE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF FATAL INJURY AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN CALIFORNIA; AND

WHEREAS, SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF OLDER ADULTS WHO KILL THEMSELVES HAVE VISITED A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THEIR SUICIDE; 41 PERCENT WITHIN ONE WEEK; AND 20 PERCENT WITHIN 24 HOURS; AND

WHEREAS, HOME-DELIVERED MEALS (MEALS-ON-WHEELS) PROVIDERS HAVE FREQUENT, REGULAR ACCESS TO ISOLATED, HOMEBOUND OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE AT GREAT RISK FOR SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION; AND

WHEREAS, SEVENTY-FIVE TO 80 PERCENT OF OLDER ADULTS WHO RECEIVE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION RECOVER; AND

WHEREAS, THE MEALS-ON-WHEELS MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM OPERATED BY REDWOOD COAST SENIORS, INCORPORATED, WHICH IS A MODEL PROGRAM THAT HAS OPERATED IN MENDOCINO COUNTY FOR FIVE YEARS, HAS GENERATED HUNDREDS OF APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS, MOSTLY TO FAMILY PHYSICIANS, AND HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE NUMBER AND RATE OF SUICIDES AMONG OLDER ADULTS; AND

WHEREAS, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS ALREADY BEING SERVED BY A MEALS-ON-WHEELS NETWORK THAT, WITH ADEQUATE SUPPORT, COULD EFFICIENTLY ADOPT THIS MODEL SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BRING ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM OF SUICIDE AMONG OLDER ADULTS, AND TO THE SUCCESSFUL SUICIDE PREVENTION MODEL PROGRAM OPERATED BY REDWOOD COAST SENIORS, INCORPORATED, BY RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF THE MEALS-ON-WHEELS MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM THROUGH APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO REPLICATE THE MEALS‑ON‑WHEELS MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM AS A MODEL FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS STATEWIDE, AND TO SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR STATEWIDE REPLICATION OF THAT PROGRAM; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 08 21910

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