Florida Office of Suicide Prevention

On May 22, 2007 after four years of hard work The Florida Legislature finally passed  a bill creating the Office of Suicide Prevention within the Office of Drug Control in the Governor's Office.  The Florida Suicide Prevention Task Force and Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition worked hard to get this bill passed.  Thank you to many advocates, legislators and State officials who worked with the two organizations to accomplish this goal.

The Bill also created the State of Florida Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council with 28 voting members and many other non-voting members.  Together all the members of the Council will collaborate to implement the  Florida Suicide Prevention Strategy created in 2005 in the Office of Drug Control.  FISP's
Executive Director Jackie Rosen is proud to have been appointed as a voting member for the next three years.  For more information click http://www.flgov.com/pdfs/ODC-FlaSuicidePreventStrategy.pdf

History of Suicide Prevention in Florida

Florida State Task Force on Suicide Prevention

FISP's former Executive Director/CEO Rene Barrett, with SPAN colleagues, Pam Harrington & Laura Meyer, were instrumental in initiating the Florida State Task Force on Suicide Prevention. Originally chaired by James R. McDonough, Director, Office of Drug Control Policy.  The task force targeted reducing suicide in Florida by 1/3 by the year 2010. Call our office for a copy of the document they worked on or go to  the Florida Suicide Prevention Strategy Paper. (954) 384- 0344.  FISP has worked with Sen. Nan Rich to make Suicide Prevention a state of Florida priority.

Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition (FSPC)

FISP was also a founding member of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition (FSPC)

which consists of many organizations and individuals throughout the state working together to inform our legislators of the needs of Florida's citizens concerning suicide prevention.  FSPC holds and Annual Suicide Prevention Day in the Capital to educate our legislators. The FSPC website http://www.floridasuicideprevention.org/ has comprehensive  information regarding legislative actions.  

How you can help Legislatively?          

By working together with FISP and other agencies we will achieve our common goal together.  Call or write your legislators. Ask them to continue funding Suicide Prevention and Mental Health initiatives in Florida.  Go to the FSPC website http://www.floridasuicideprevention.org/ or the state website myflorida.com to find your legislators.           

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Survivor’s Notes: This section will expand for those loved ones who have survived a suicide, and for those who have attempted suicide, to recount their stories. By telling your stories, you will be able to help those who have experienced the trauma and can benefit to know that they are not alone. For those contemplating suicide, your stories may give them the second option they need to reach out for help. And for others, it may just alert them to the warning signs of those around them. feel free to contact the editor to submit your stories at fisp@earthlink.net  -  (954) 384-7988 (fax).                   

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