Amendment ID: S2519-40
Amendment 40
Massachusetts Commission on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Management
Messrs. Tarr, Timilty and Welch, Ms. Gobi, Messrs. Eldridge, Feeney, Moore and O'Connor move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section _ the following new section:-
"SECTION_.There shall be established a Commission on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Management to be comprised of nine members; The Governor or their designee, the Attorney General or their designee, the Secretary of Health and Human Services or their designee, the Commissioner of The Department of Mental Health or their designee, the secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security or their designee, the Speaker of the House or their designee, the minority leader of the house or their designee, the Senate President or their designee, the minority leader of the senate or their designee.
Said commission shall examine the state of suicide prevention and mental health crisis management in the Commonwealth. The commission will include in its study emergency and outpatient care needs, inpatient and long-term care needs, facility and infrastructure needs, public information and outreach; professional training needs and potential shortages, establishing a dedicated fund suitable to accept donations from charitable organizations for said needs and other means of funding sources.
Said commission shall examine current and proposed suicide prevention and mental health crisis management measures including but not limited to counseling services, diversionary programs, doctors’ interventions, police wellness visits, court programs, youth education, Sections 12 and Section 35 of Chapter 123
Said commission shall also report on the current relative statistics regarding suicide and the means of suicide as established by the Injury Surveillance Program under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and shall also include legal information on how certain means of suicide or harm such as firearms, excessive medications or alcohol, suffocation or hanging can be handled if believed to be a potential hazard.
Said commission shall issue a report no later than January 1 2021 with recommendations for improvements to those efforts including expanded access, additional channels of communication, improvements to follow up programs, assistance on securing a home from materials that could be a danger to individuals who may be a risk to themselves, and increased marketing. Said report shall be submitted to the clerks of the house and senate, and the joint committee on mental health and substance use.