According to the Washington State Injury and Violence Prevention Guide, suicide is the
second leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 24 in our state. This translates to 25 percent of the deaths in this age group, which averages to about 2 youth dying by suicide each week.
A Des Moines lawmakers is determined to change those statistics and has been working diligently on ways to identify the signs that lead to suicide.
Rep. Tina Orwall began tackling the issue in the 2012 Legislative Session, when she sponsored HB 2366, the Matt Adler Suicide, Treatment and Management Act.
The measure requires mental health professionals, social workers and occupational therapists to receive six hours of training every six years as part of their continuing education requirement. Her bill was signed into law, making it the first of its kind in the nation.
This year, Orwall continued looking for solutions, but this time focused on preventing youth suicide. Her legislation, HB 1336, improves the capacity of schools to identify and intervene with students who are struggling with emotional issues and suicidal thoughts. Specifically, Orwall’s measure requires certified school nurses, social workers and counselors to complete training in youth suicide screening and referral as a condition of their certification.
The Troubled Youth Task Force, created by the new law to identify best practices, model programs, and successful strategies to improve support for at-risk youth in Washington schools, met earlier this week. For more information on the implementation of Orwall’s measure and the meeting, read the Q13 News story here.