Post by Logan on Feb 29, 2016 1:49:08 GMT -6
BOISE – Long-sought state funding for Idaho’s suicide prevention hotline and for the state’s suicide prevention plan won overwhelming support from the Legislature’s joint budget committee on Friday.
Idaho had the 9th highest suicide rate in the country in 2014, 46 percent higher than the national average. Washington ranked 22nd.
“The loss of life due to suicide can be classified as nothing less than catastrophic right now,” said Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, “and we need to do something about that.”
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted 17-1 in favor of a budget for public health services that includes $971,100 in state funds and four new positions to carry out the state’s suicide prevention plan.
Read more: www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/26/idaho-lawmakers-back-long-sought-suicide-preventio/
Idaho had the 9th highest suicide rate in the country in 2014, 46 percent higher than the national average. Washington ranked 22nd.
“The loss of life due to suicide can be classified as nothing less than catastrophic right now,” said Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, “and we need to do something about that.”
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted 17-1 in favor of a budget for public health services that includes $971,100 in state funds and four new positions to carry out the state’s suicide prevention plan.
Read more: www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/26/idaho-lawmakers-back-long-sought-suicide-preventio/