Bill > HB54

This bill establishes the Office of Suicide Prevention under the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health in Delaware, with a comprehensive mandate to address suicide prevention. The office will serve as a central hub for suicide prevention resources, working in coordination with the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families and the state suicide prevention coalition. Its key responsibilities include providing prevention, intervention, and postvention guidance to stakeholders, collaborating with community organizations to promote best practices, overseeing funding applications and grant seeking, and preparing an annual report to the General Assembly and Governor. The office will be responsible for creating and updating the State's Suicide Prevention Plan every three years, with the first plan due by January 1, 2026. The office will be led by a Director who reports to the Division Director, with the potential to hire additional staff based on recommendations and available funding. The bill is named "DJ's Act" and represents a structured approach to addressing suicide prevention at the state level by creating a dedicated office with specific operational guidelines and objectives.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141885