Amendment ID: S2519-41

Amendment 41

State suicide prevention hotline

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_. Chapter 19 as appearing in the 2018 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after section 25 the following new section:-

SECTION 26. The Department of Mental Health shall subject to appropriation establish a Friends and Family Suicide Prevention Hotline for the purpose of suicide prevention, intervention, and other mental health crisis management. The hotline shall provide assistance to those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or friends of family members that are concerned for another person. Means of contact for the hotline shall include, but not be limited to, phone, text message, email, and/or live online chat. The hotline monitors shall be trained in suicide prevention and mental health crisis management shall provide information on available professional assistance and intervention.  The hotline shall also provide information on intervention means that exist within the Commonwealth including, but not limited to, wellness visits by local law enforcement, Sections 12, Section 12A and Section 35 of Chapter 123 as well as other intervention means. All information gathered through the hotline shall be confidential unless the caller specifically authorizes the agency otherwise.

The Department of Mental Health shall develop materials available to the public for a wellness follow up program. The program shall offer assistance on how to conduct a home inspection for materials that could be a danger to person who may be a risk to themselves as well as information on mental health wellness assistance. The information shall also include legal information on how certain means of suicide or harm such as firearms, excessive medications or alcohol can be legally and safely handled if found.

The Department of Mental Health shall develop public relation materials, public service announcements and other means to make the general public aware of the hotline and other services."