Contact Person(s):

Phyllis H. Stenklyft, MD, FAAP, FACEP
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics
University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville
Director, Pediatric Emergency Services
Shands Jacksonville
Medical Advisor, Florida EMSC Program
phyllis.stenklyft@jax.ufl.edu

Chuck Bement

EMS Bureau Chief.

Charles_Bement@doh.state.fl.us

Art Clawson, Division Director

EMS & Community Health Resources

BIN C15

4052 Bald Cypress Way

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1735

(850) 245-4050

Art_Clawson@doh.state.fl.us

Ms. Melia Jenkins
EMSC Coordinator
FL DOH / Bureau of EMS
850-245-4440 x-2773
melia_jenkins@doh.state.fl.us

Summary of what Florida is doing:

Currently Florida is working on developing a state plan.

Links to applicable web pages:

  Adolescent Suicide Prevention Plan

Extra Information on FLORIDA

In 1984, the Florida State Legislature passed Senate Bill 529, the Florida Youth Emotional Development; and Suicide Prevention Act and required the Department of Health Rehabilitative Services (in cooperation with the State Department of Education and Law Enforcement) to develop a state plan for youth suicide. The Act further required HRS to establish an Interprogram Task Force, including representatives from the HRS Program Offices of Children, Youth and Families; Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health: Developmental Services; Evaluation; and from the Departments of Law Enforcement and Education.

A statewide task force was appointed by David Pingree, Secretary of the Department of HRS. In fulfilling its responsibility for formulating a statewide plan, the Interprogram Task Force concluded that, while a number of service components are already in place in many of the districts, coordination and supplementation of existing services will be needed in order to establish a starting point for developing the full continuum of services, including prevention, intervention, and treatment. Planning and development of services for each category of problems must be coordinated so that children’s needs can be addressed in a holistic manner and so that all significant persons in the child’s environment can be attuned to their respective roles in promoting the child’s emotional development.

In 1990, Florida also made suicide prevention training a requirement for teacher certification. It was mandated that a life-management skills class be taught and suicide awareness was included in that curriculum at the secondary level. In 1999, the Department of Education introduced the SAFE School Action Planning and Preparedness Program. School Critical Incident Response Plans incorporate suicide threats and gestures at all levels.

In that same year, the Florida Department of Children and Families funded the Florida Youth Suicide Prevention Study. The 1999 report to the Florida State Legislature was based on qualitative data collected from ten regional community forums and seven focus groups across the State of Florida. The Florida Youth Suicide Prevention Report clearly describes what professionals, parents and youth are saying about suicide and their communities’ attitudes, needs and resources. The findings in this report provide information to better understand the problem of youth suicide, develop prevention and intervention efforts and inform families and professionals who might recognize warning signs and other support and treatment.

Intervention

Establish a Council on Youth Suicide Prevention, created by executive order inclusive of representation from agencies, organizations, interested parties mirroring the Florida Department of Health Adolescent Suicide Prevention Plan Task Force.

The council would provide the leadership, networking opportunities, expertise, and coordination necessary to build a comprehensive and accessible continuum of youth suicide intervention, postvention and prevention with resources to address this problem. Youth suicide prevention must be integrated into other services for youth. A commitment to focus our state efforts better through continued re-evaluation of the recommended initiatives is necessary to significantly impact the high rate of Florida suicide.

Improve access to and availability of appropriate prevention services for vulnerable youth groups and high-risk individuals. Identify communities for pilot program; establish clear observable and measurable goals.