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145.56 Suicide prevention.

Subdivision 1. Suicide prevention plan. The commissioner of health shall refine, coordinate, and implement the state's suicide prevention plan using an evidence-based, public health approach focused on prevention, in collaboration with the commissioner of human services; the commissioner of public safety; the commissioner of education; and appropriate agencies, organizations, and institutions in the community.

Subd. 2. Community-based programs. (a) The commissioner shall establish a grant program to fund:

(1) community-based programs to provide education, outreach, and advocacy services to populations who may be at risk for suicide;

(2) community-based programs that educate community helpers and gatekeepers, such as family members, spiritual leaders, coaches, and business owners, employers, and coworkers on how to prevent suicide by encouraging help-seeking behaviors;

(3) community-based programs that educate populations at risk for suicide and community helpers and gatekeepers that must include information on the symptoms of depression and other psychiatric illnesses, the warning signs of suicide, skills for preventing suicides, and making or seeking effective referrals to intervention and community resources; and

(4) community-based programs to provide evidence-based suicide prevention and intervention education to school staff, parents, and students in grades kindergarten through 12.

Subd. 3. Workplace and professional education. (a) The commissioner shall promote the use of employee assistance and workplace programs to support employees with depression and other psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders, and refer them to services. In promoting these programs, the commissioner shall collaborate with employer and professional associations, unions, and safety councils.

(b) The commissioner shall provide training and technical assistance to local public health and other community-based professionals to provide for integrated implementation of best practices for preventing suicides.

Subd. 4. Collection and reporting suicide data. The commissioner shall coordinate with federal, regional, local, and other state agencies to collect, analyze, and annually issue a public report on Minnesota-specific data on suicide and suicidal behaviors.

Subd. 5. Periodic evaluations; biennial reports. The commissioner shall conduct periodic evaluations of the impact of and outcomes from implementation of the state's suicide prevention plan and each of the activities specified in this section. By July 1, 2002, and July 1 of each even-numbered year thereafter, the commissioner shall report the results of these evaluations to the chairs of the policy and finance committees in the house and senate with jurisdiction over health and human services issues.

HIST: 1Sp2001 c 9 art 1 s 45; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2003 c 130 s 12

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes