Certain health care professionals are required to complete training in suicide prevention. In 2015 the legislature passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill (ESHB) 1424. The new law requires the Department of Health (department) to develop minimum standards for the suicide prevention training programs. The department has started the rule making process to develop the minimum standards by filing a CR-101. Two stakeholder meetings are scheduled to gather input on definitions of terms, content standards and quality standards to include in the rules.
The first stakeholder meeting will be on Monday, October 19 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in room 307 at the Department of Health’s office in Kent, WA (20425 72nd Avenue S, Building 2). This meeting is open to the public. Attendees will work in small groups to discuss a series of questions related to suicide prevention training program standards. The questions are attached. The department will use the input provided to develop draft rules.
The second stakeholder meeting will be at the same Kent location on Wednesday, November 4 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. At this meeting attendees will review draft rules and to provide additional input to the department. This meeting is also open to the public.
Please pass this news on to colleagues who may have an interest in participating in the rule making process. Click here for a one-page flyer to post. If you are not able to attend the meeting, you can email your input to the department at SuicidePreventionCE@doh.wa.gov
--From Karen Brownson, MSW, Project Manager, WA State Department of Health