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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution recognizes that suicide is a public health crisis and
11 encourages the United States Congress to designate a nationwide N-1-1 mental health
12 crisis number to assist with mental health crisis intervention services.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 ▸ declares suicide to be a public health crisis;
16 ▸ recommends that the Federal Communications Commission investigate the N-1-1
17 numbers nationwide to determine the best number for a mental health crisis number;
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19 ▸ petitions the Congress of the United States of America to designate an N-1-1
20 number as a nationwide mental health crisis number.
21 Special Clauses:
22 None
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24 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
25 WHEREAS, in 2016 in the state of Utah, suicides were responsible for 613 deaths,
26 including 74 veterans and 33 children age 18 and younger;
27 WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state of
28 Utah has one of the highest suicide rates in the country;
29 WHEREAS, many people are unaware of how to reach mental health or suicide
30 intervention resources in a moment of crisis;
31 WHEREAS, the U.S. Public Health Service has stated that easy access to support for
32 help-seeking is a protective factor for suicide;
33 WHEREAS, 9-1-1, an N-1-1 number, is the most recognized and successful phone
34 number in the United States;
35 WHEREAS, time and training restraints on most 9-1-1 dispatchers preclude the ability
36 to resolve mental health crisis calls without negatively impacting their primary mission;
37 WHEREAS, an N-1-1 number dedicated to mental and behavioral health services,
38 patterned after the successful 9-1-1 model for physical emergencies, could assist individuals
39 with suicide intervention or other mental health crises and save countless lives; and
40 WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage a public health
41 approach to suicide prevention:
42 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
43 Governor concurring therein, recognizes that suicide is a public health crisis.
44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor request that the
45 Federal Communications Commission review N-1-1 numbers to recommend the best number
46 to use for a nationwide mental health crisis number and petition the Congress of the United
47 States of America to designate an N-1-1 number after consulting with the Federal
48 Communications Commission as to which N-1-1 number would be best suited for such use.
49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage other
50 states to pass similar resolutions to show broad support for the creation of a nationwide mental
51 health crisis number.
52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the President of
53 the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United
54 States House of Representatives, the members of Utah's congressional delegation, and the state
55 legislatures of the other 49 states.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel