New Tennessee law creates program to identify suicide causes

As 2019 begins, a new Tennessee law will create a statewide program to identify causes of suicides and work to prevent suicide death, WGNSRadio.com reported Jan. 7. But legislative action has already begun to continue to raise awareness of the growing problem for the upcoming session. Representative Rick Staples has filed a resolution recognizing teen suicide as a “crisis” across the state. The rate of people taking their own lives has increased every year for the past three, up to 1,163 in 2017. Staples said the new 2019 law will help quantify the causes behind people taking their own lives. He says raising awareness and reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health can make a huge difference for people of all ages. The Suicide Prevention Act of 2018 authorized the commissioner of health to create the Tennessee suicide prevention program. This team, appointed by the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, will further address the growing number of adult suicides in Tennessee.