A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE STATE UNIVERSITIES TO COLLABORATE TO IMPLEMENT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAMS IN ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ALL INSTITUTIONS LISTED IN ARTICLE 12, SECTION 11 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico ranks number one in suicide rates among states in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for youth fifteen to twenty-five years of age; the second-leading cause of death for youth ten to fourteen years of age; and the second-leading cause of death for college students according to the national association of suicidology; and

     WHEREAS, according to the New Mexico youth risk and resiliency survey for 2003, students were asked questions pertaining to feelings of sadness, depression and suicidal thoughts and the findings showed that twenty and six-tenths percent of females and thirteen and six-tenths percent of males in grades nine through twelve seriously considered suicide in 2003; and

     WHEREAS, the survey also showed that a total of fifteen and nine-tenths percent of New Mexico youth reported that in the year prior to the survey they had developed a suicide plan; and

     WHEREAS, the survey also found that fourteen and

one-half percent of young people attempted suicide in the year prior to the survey and seven and one-half percent were seriously injured due to a suicide attempt; and

     WHEREAS, statistics show that more young adults die from suicide than die from cancer, heart disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined; and

     WHEREAS, a protocol for the entire state to follow and adhere to would greatly benefit school officials, students, families and communities in responding to suicide attempts and completions within schools and communities; and

     WHEREAS, the issue of youth suicide is one that affects family, friends, communities and the state as a whole; and

     WHEREAS, because the future of New Mexico relies on the futures of young people who one day will be the business and community leaders, governors, doctors, teachers, attorneys, scientists and parents, no child or young adult should feel that the world would be better without him or her; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans owe it to the future to employ everyone's effort in addressing this important issue;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department, the commission on higher education, the department of health and representatives of the institutions listed in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico collaborate to address the issue of youth suicide by developing and providing training programs for teachers and students and developing a suicide prevention and response protocol and establishing suicide prevention and response programs in all public schools and universities in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education, the director of the commission on higher education and the secretary of health take the lead to establish a protocol to be used in schools to provide suicide prevention and response training and report to an appropriate interim committee of the legislature on their progress no later than November 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education, the director of the commission on higher education, the secretary of health and the presidents and boards of regents or governing boards of the institutions listed in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico.