Florida Receives $1.5 Million for Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Programs
Nov 19, 2008
The Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention and Florida Office of Drug Control announced today, November 19, 2008, that Florida has been awarded $1.5 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support youth suicide prevention and early intervention programs.
Florida is one of eighteen states awarded funds through the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which provides authorization and funding for grants combating youth suicide.
A press release from the Office of the Governor detailing the award is reprinted below.
Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Frank Mayernick at fmayernick@cftlaw.com.
Florida Receives $1.5 Million for Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Programs
TALLAHASSEE – The Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention and Florida Office of Drug Control are proud to announce that Florida has been awarded $1.5 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support youth suicide prevention and early intervention programs. Eighteen states were awarded through the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act which provides authorization and funding for grants combating youth suicide.
“I am very pleased Florida has secured funding which will assist in improving the quality of life for youth and reducing the public health threat of suicide,” said Governor Charlie Crist.
The Florida A.S.A.P. (Adolescent Suicide Awareness and Prevention) Project is a three-year project, which will enhance that State’s capacity to reduce the rate of suicide in youths between the ages of 10 and 24. The A.S.A.P. project will target Duval County, a large area with a youth suicide rate higher than the national average. Organizations in this county will build upon existing state and community evidence-based and culturally competent youth suicide prevention efforts and partnerships. It will enhance a community infrastructure where suicide prevention is a targeted activity of the community’s Children’s Mental Health Task Force, a working collaboration of over 35 state, public and private organizations. The A.S.A.P. Project will include activities such as gatekeeper trainings, adolescent screening programs, social marketing campaigns and crisis support services. Duval County was also a pilot county in the Florida Suicide Prevention Implementation Project.
The A.S.A.P. project is a result of the collaboration between the University of South Florida, Mental Health America of Northeast Florida, and Duval County community partners. The Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention would like to thank these partners for their support and on-going commitment to suicide prevention in Florida.
“This grant will be one of them mechanisms through which we implement the Florida’s Suicide Prevention Strategy at the community level. The opportunity to transform lives depends on empowerment at the local level. The activities that will be carried out with this funding are critical to reducing our state’s high suicide rate,” says Office of Suicide Prevention Director, Erin MacInnes.
Established in spring 2007, the Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention functions as a unit of the Florida Office of Drug Control within the Executive Office of the Governor. The Office serves to develop suicide prevention strategies, manage statewide initiatives, create policy and serve as a clearinghouse of information for the general public. To learn more, please visit www.HelpPromoteHope.com.