1. There is hereby created within the Department a Statewide Program for Suicide Prevention. The Department shall implement the Statewide Program for Suicide Prevention, which must, without limitation:

(a) Create public awareness for issues relating to suicide prevention;

(b) Build community networks; and

(c) Carry out training programs for suicide prevention for law enforcement personnel, providers of health care, school employees, family members of veterans, members of the military and other persons at risk of suicide and other persons who have contact with persons at risk of suicide.

2. The Director shall employ a Coordinator of the Statewide Program for Suicide Prevention. The Coordinator:

(a) Must have at least the following education and experience:

(1) A bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling or a closely related field and 5 years or more of work experience in behavioral health or a closely related field; or

(2) A master’s degree or a doctoral degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, public health or a closely related field and 2 years or more of work experience in behavioral health or a closely related field.

(b) Should have as many of the following characteristics as possible:

(1) Significant professional experience in social services, mental health or a closely related field;

(2) Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, methods of facilitation, community development, behavioral health treatment and prevention programs, and community-based behavioral health problems;

(3) Experience in working with diverse community groups and constituents; and

(4) Experience in writing grants and technical reports.

3. The Coordinator shall:

(a) Provide educational activities to the general public relating to suicide prevention;

(b) Provide training to persons who, as part of their usual routine, have face-to-face contact with persons who may be at risk of suicide, including, without limitation, training to recognize persons at risk of suicide and providing information on how to refer those persons for treatment or supporting services, as appropriate;

(c) To the extent that money is available for this purpose, provide training to family members of veterans, members of the military and other persons at risk of suicide, including, without limitation, training in recognizing and productively interacting with persons at risk of suicide and the manner in which to refer those persons to persons professionally trained in suicide intervention and prevention;

(d) Develop and carry out public awareness and media campaigns in each county targeting groups of persons who are at risk of suicide;

(e) Enhance crisis services relating to suicide prevention;

(f) Link persons trained in the assessment of and intervention in suicide with schools, public community centers, nursing homes and other facilities serving persons most at risk of suicide;

(g) Coordinate the establishment of local advisory groups in each county to support the efforts of the Statewide Program;

(h) Work with groups advocating suicide prevention, community coalitions, managers of existing crisis hotlines that are nationally accredited or certified, and staff members of mental health agencies in this State to identify and address the barriers that interfere with providing services to groups of persons who are at risk of suicide, including, without limitation, elderly persons, Native Americans, youths and residents of rural communities;

(i) Develop and maintain an Internet or network site with links to appropriate resource documents, suicide hotlines that are nationally accredited or certified, licensed professional personnel, state and local mental health agencies and appropriate national organizations;

(j) Review current research on data collection for factors related to suicide and develop recommendations for improved systems of surveillance and uniform collection of data;

(k) Develop and submit proposals for funding from agencies of the Federal Government and nongovernmental organizations; and

(l) Oversee and provide technical assistance to each person employed to act as a trainer for suicide prevention pursuant to NRS 439.513.

4. As used in this section:

(a) “Internet or network site” means any identifiable site on the Internet or on a network and includes, without limitation:

(1) A website or other similar site on the World Wide Web;

(2) A site that is identifiable through a Uniform Resource Locator; and

(3) A site on a network that is owned, operated, administered or controlled by a provider of Internet service.

(b) “Systems of surveillance” means systems pursuant to which the health conditions of the general public are regularly monitored through systematic collection, evaluation and reporting of measurable information to identify and understand trends relating to suicide.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 2652; A 2013, 366; 2019, 3107)