MORE THAN 14-HUNDRED PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE EACH YEAR IN ILLINOIS AND NEW LEGISLATION AIMS TO LOWER THAT NUMBER.
THE BILL CREATES THE ILLINOIS OFFICE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION TO HELP ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT THE LATEST PREVENTION STRATEGIES. FOR EXAMPLE, AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION ILLINOIS’ STEVE MOORE SAYS PRIMARY DOCTORS AND EMERGENCY ROOM PERSONNEL SHOULD BEING ROUTINELY SCREENING PATIENTS.
MOORE SAYS THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE MORE FOCUS ON SUICIDE PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS AND AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT. UNDER THE LEGISLATION, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WOULD HOUSE THE NEW OFFICE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION. IT’S SPONSORED BY SENATOR HEATHER STEANS (stains) OF CHICAGO.
NEW STRATEGIES INCLUDE REMOVING THE STIGMA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET HELP AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE PATIENTS KEEP THEIR APPOINTMENTS WITH THEIR PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRIST.
