Bill > SCR197

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Health, the state agency responsible for public health, to create guidelines, known as protocols, for hospitals to better care for patients who are thinking about suicide. These protocols are needed because suicide is a significant cause of death, especially among young adults, and rates have been increasing. The resolution highlights that many people who die by suicide have had contact with healthcare providers but weren't diagnosed with a mental health condition, indicating gaps in care. The Department of Health is asked to work with hospitals, including Kahi Mohala, to develop these protocols, which should ensure that patients contemplating or attempting suicide receive one-on-one counseling, have 24/7 access to trained counselors, receive counseling in the emergency room if admitted, are not discharged if homeless, and are not discharged to correctional facilities if they are not a danger to others. The guidelines also emphasize treating these patients with respect and dignity. Finally, the Department of Health must report its proposed protocols and any necessary legislative changes to the Legislature by a specific date before the 2023 legislative session begins.