(1) The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention is created within the Department of Children and Families.
(2) The statewide office shall, within available resources:
(a) Develop a network of community-based programs to improve suicide prevention initiatives. The network shall identify and work to eliminate barriers to providing suicide prevention services to individuals who are at risk of suicide. The network shall consist of stakeholders advocating suicide prevention, including, but not limited to, not-for-profit suicide prevention organizations, faith-based suicide prevention organizations, law enforcement agencies, first responders to emergency calls, veterans, servicemembers, suicide prevention community coalitions, schools and universities, mental health agencies, substance abuse treatment agencies, health care providers, and school personnel.
(b) Prepare and implement the statewide plan with the advice of the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.
(c) Increase public awareness concerning topics relating to suicide prevention.
(d) Coordinate education and training curricula in suicide prevention efforts for law enforcement personnel, first responders to emergency calls, veterans, servicemembers, health care providers, school employees, and other persons who may have contact with persons at risk of suicide.
(e) Act as a clearinghouse for information and resources related to suicide prevention by:
1. Disseminating and sharing evidence-based best practices relating to suicide prevention.
2. Collecting and analyzing data on trends in suicide and suicide attempts annually by county, age, gender, profession, and other demographics as designated by the statewide office.
(f) Advise the Department of Transportation on the implementation of evidence-based suicide deterrents in the design elements and features of infrastructure projects throughout the state.
(3) The Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention may seek and accept grants or funds from any federal, state, or local source to support the operation and defray the authorized expenses of the office and the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council. Revenues from grants shall be deposited in the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within the Department of Children and Families. In accordance with s. 216.181(11), the Executive Office of the Governor may request changes to the approved operating budget to allow the expenditure of any additional grant funds collected pursuant to this subsection.
(4) Agencies under the control of the Governor or the Governor and Cabinet are directed, and all others are encouraged, to provide information and support to the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention as requested.
(5) The First Responders Suicide Deterrence Task Force, a task force as defined in s. 20.03(8), is created adjunct to the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention.
(a) The purpose of the task force is to make recommendations on how to reduce the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide among employed or retired first responders in the state.
(b) The task force is composed of a representative of the statewide office and a representative of each of the following first responder organizations, nominated by the organization and appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families:
1. The Florida Professional Firefighters Association.
2. The Florida Police Benevolent Association.
3. The Florida State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.
4. The Florida Sheriffs Association.
5. The Florida Police Chiefs Association.
6. The Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association.
(c) The task force shall elect a chair from among its membership. Except as otherwise provided, the task force shall operate in a manner consistent with s. 20.052.
(d) The task force shall identify or make recommendations on developing training programs and materials that would better enable first responders to cope with personal life stressors and stress related to their profession and foster an organizational culture that:
1. Promotes mutual support and solidarity among active and retired first responders.
2. Trains agency supervisors and managers to identify suicidal risk among active and retired first responders.
3. Improves the use and awareness of existing resources among active and retired first responders.
4. Educates active and retired first responders on suicide awareness and help-seeking.
(e) The task force shall identify state and federal public resources, funding and grants, first responder association resources, and private resources to implement identified training programs and materials.
(f) The task force shall report on its findings and recommendations for training programs and materials to deter suicide among active and retired first responders to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by each July 1, beginning in 2021, and through 2023.
(g) This subsection is repealed July 1, 2023.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2007-46; s. 1, ch. 2011-51; s. 1, ch. 2014-19; s. 1, ch. 2020-39.