SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) today announced that her bill, AB 509, passed the Assembly with bipartisan support on a vote of 62 to 5.  The bill would create the Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) under the Department of Mental Health.  Modeled after the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, OSP would devise a comprehensive and integrated approach to reducing the loss and suffering from suicide and suicidal behaviors on a statewide basis. 

“We reached an important milestone today in our collaborative effort to advance mental health care in California,” stated Hayashi.  “I want to thank all the mental health professionals, organizations, and concerned constituents who worked tirelessly to help pass this piece of legislation.”

Currently, California does not have a state agency that coordinates suicide prevention efforts.  OSP would serve in that role by working with community health care partners to research and develop successful prevention strategies.  Additionally, it would report the extent of the problem and the effectiveness of various prevention measures it advocates for periodically to the legislature and the public. 

“Our work continues in the Senate,” said Hayashi.  “It is important that we provide the necessary resources to address this critical element of our health care because the statistics are alarming.  More than 3,000 Californians die by suicide each year.  It is the third leading cause of death among our teens and young adults.  The Office of Suicide Prevention will play a vital role in identifying and creating resources to help those in need.”  

Once enacted, OSP would establish an advisory committee of mental health professionals to conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine existing resources and best practices now available to prevent suicides.   It would also identify populations of concern by collecting and disseminating information compiled from the Department of Vital Statistics and other sources regarding suicide deaths including, but not limited to, the manner and means of death, age, race/ethnicity, city of residence.   Another important function of the office would be to develop prevention training standards with an emphasis on underserved communities and cultural competency. 

Hayashi serves the 18th Assembly District, which includes San Leandro, Hayward, Dublin, most of Castro Valley and Pleasanton, and a portion of Oakland, as well as the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland and San Lorenzo.