Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force

In late spring of 2018, the Tower Mental Health Foundation and Attorney General Schmidt formed a task force to survey efforts underway in Kansas to reduce the incidence of youth suicide and provide recommendations on further steps that could be taken.

The attorney general asked the task force to focus on three specific tasks and to produce a report by the end of the year. The Task Force was given three charges:

1. Survey ongoing local and state efforts to combat youth suicide through the State of Kansas.
2. Review the Safe2Tell phone application and similar methods aimed at increasing communication with youth needing assistance and effective reporting of stressors on young people.
3. Make recommendations for changes in practice, policy or law aimed at preventing youth suicide in Kansas.

The report produced by the Task Force is available below.

• 2018 Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force Report

Appendix A - Written Testimony Presented In-Person at Hearings

Topeka, June 29, 2018

1. Hearing Summary
2. Testimony Provided by Kansas Violent Death Reporting
3. Testimony Provided by State Child Death Review Board
4. Testimony Provided by Ks. Legislative Research
5. Testimony Provided by Kansas State Department of Education, Kent Reed

Salina, July 19, 2018

1. Hearing Summary
2. Reporting Options for Kansas Kids, Crystal Moe
3. Tom Karlin Foundation Presentation
4. Tom Karlin Foundation Organizational Worksheet
5. Suicide Prevention Resource Center Presentation, Monica Kurz
6. suicideTALK Info Sheet
7. ASIST Info Sheet
8. Central Ks. Mental Health Center
9. Headquarters brochure

Iola, August 31, 2018

1. Hearing Summary
2. Greenbush Presentation, Lisa Chenay
3. Greenbush Organizational Worksheet
4. Kansas Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant Final Evaluation Report
5. Maps of Communities that Care Survey Results
6. American Association of Suicidology
7. American Association of Suicidology Organizational Worksheet
8. Kansas School Counselor Association and Kansas Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Presentation
9. Kansas School Counselor Association and Kansas Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Organizational Worksheet
10. National Alliance on Mental Illness Materials
11. National Alliance on Mental Illness Organizational Worksheet

Wichita, September 25, 2018

1. Hearing Summary
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's Presentation
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration Resources
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration Organizational Worksheet
5. Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Presentation
6. Governor's Behavioral Health Services Planning Council Prevention Sub-Committee Presentation
7. Governor's Behavioral Health Services Planning Council Prevention Sub-Committee Organizational Worksheet

Overland Park, October 18, 2018

1. Hearing Summary
2. The Jason Foundation, Inc. Presentation
3. #ZeroReasonsWhy Campaign Organizational Worksheet
4. SpeakUp, Jennifer Savner Levinson, Organizational Worksheet and Presentation
5. School Based Social Workers, Children's Mercy Kansas City Materials
6. Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition Presentation
7. Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition Organizational Worksheet

Dodge City, November 9, 2018

1. Hearing Summary
2. SafeUT Presentation
3. Summary of Utah Legislation
4. PREPaRE, Josh Tanguay, Presentation
5. Vulnerability Assessment Handout
6. Dodge City High School TALC Presentation
7. Dodge City High School TALC Organizational Worksheet
8. Melanie Scott, Dodge City High School and Ford County Suicide Prevention Coalition Organizational Worksheet
9. Rob Boyd, Ford County Fire and EMS Chief Organizational Worksheet
10. Kathy Busch, School Mental Health Advisory Council Presentation
11. Steve Birdsall, Capsol Presentation
12. Steve Birdsall, Capsol Organizational Worksheet

Topeka, December 10, 2018

1. Hearing Summary
2. Rock Creek Yellow Ribbon Presentation
3. Rock Creek Yellow Ribbon Student Testimony

Appendix B - Testimony Provided in Writing Only

• Biedenbender, Sadie
• Cunningham, Tina
• Family Service and Guidance Center
• Haswood, Christina
• Kessler, Kyle
• Keys for Networking, Jane Adams
• Klaassen, Hannah - Miss Kansas Social Impact Statement
• Klaus, Nicole
• Perez, Alexandra
• Sass-MoKan (Suicide Awareness Survivor Support)
• Tallman, Norma

Appendix C - Resources Provided to Task Force

• 2018 State Child Death Review Board Annual Report
• As Safe As Possible - Inpatient Intervention Article
• ASIST Trainer Registry
• CDC Suicide Mortality Data Brief 11.2018
• Experimental Phone Apps Hope to Detect Teen Depression - Education Week
• Jason Foundation brochure
• Kansas Educator Preparation Program Standards for Professional Education
• KDHE News Release CDC Report Outlines State Suicide Rates
• KPC Brochure
• MCH Block Grant Information
• QPR HopeSquad
• State-Mortality-Supplement-Kansas
• Suicide Attempt Prevention
• Suicide Dykstra WorldCongress 080514
• Vital Signs June 2018 Suicide
• Vital Signs Trends in State Suicide Rates
• Why Are Death Rates Rising in the White Population of Kansas?
• Yellow Ribbon Resources

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