Section 232: Collection, recording and analyzation of data on suicides in the commonwealth; annual report
Section 232. The department, in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security shall, subject to appropriation, collect, record and analyze data on all suicides in the commonwealth. Data collected for each incident shall include, to the extent possible and with respect to all applicable privacy protection laws, the following: (i) the means of the suicide; (ii) the source of the means of the suicide; (iii) the length of time between purchase of the means and the death of the decedent; (iv) the relationship of the owner of the means to the decedent; (v) whether the means was legally obtained and owned pursuant to the laws of the commonwealth; (vi) a record of past suicide attempts by the decedent; (vii) a record of past mental health treatment of the decedent; and (viii) the physical location of the suicide, whether the location is private or public property and the number of known attempts previously made by any other person at the same location.
The department shall annually submit a report, which shall include aggregate data collected for the preceding calendar year and the department's analysis, with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the executive office of public safety and security not later than December 31. Names, addresses or other identifying factors shall not be included.
The commissioner shall work in conjunction with the offices and agencies in custody of the data listed in this section to facilitate collection of the data and to ensure that data sharing mechanisms are in compliance with all applicable laws relating to privacy protection.
Data collected and held by the department to complete the report pursuant to this section shall not be subject to section 10 of chapter 66 and clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter.