Report to the General Assembly (Published)

Document Title

Suicide Prevention Across The Life Span Plan for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Author

Secretary of Health and Human Resources

Enabling Authority

SJR 312 (2003)

Executive Summary

In 2003, the General Assembly agreed to Senate Joint Resolution 312 requesting the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in cooperation with the Secretaries of Education and Public Safety, to formulate a comprehensive Suicide Prevention across the Life Span Plan for the Commonwealth. The General Assembly directed the Department of Health (VDH) and the Department for the Aging (VDA) to develop the plan, with participation from the Departments of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS); Social Services; Education; Juvenile Justice; Criminal Justice Services; State Police; Corrections; and any other state agency with an interest, responsibility, or role in suicide prevention.

The Suicide Prevention across the Lifespan Plan was developed with the input of stakeholders from around the Commonwealth, through research into national and state resources, and with guidance and review by an Interagency Committee. The goals from the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy), developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 2001, were adapted to Virginia and form the basis for the Virginia goals. One of the National Strategy's objectives is to "increase the proportion of States with comprehensive suicide prevention plans that a)coordinate across government agencies, b) involve the private sector; and c) support plan development, implementation, and evaluation in its communities." This plan, with emphasis on the entire lifespan, responds to this objective.