New state office aims to save lives

Recently, in a packed room, Gov. Meyer publicly signed into law my House Bill 54, creating an Office of Suicide Prevention in Delaware. At the start of my remarks, I asked folks to raise their hand if they or someone they knew had been directly impacted by suicide. Knowing this is true for many of us, I expected one-half or two-thirds of hands to go up. Instead, every single hand in the room was raised. It highlighted the need for suicide-related legislation and made me think of the vital work many advocates here in Delaware have been performing for years.

Before the passage of HB 54, Delaware was the last state in the nation not to have an Office of Suicide Prevention or a comparable full-time position. For HB 54, I worked with the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, the Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families, community advocates, and relatives of loved ones who have been affected by suicide. Of particular help was DJ’s Alliance, a Delaware nonprofit founded by Jennifer Antonik, who lost her husband and the father of her children to suicide Sept. 1, 2021, the first day of the annually recognized National Suicide Prevention Month.

The office will open with one full-time director, with an existing state job opening being repurposed for the role so that no additional money comes out of the state general fund. The office is tasked with serving as a hub for all suicide-related resources in the state; assisting the Suicide Prevention Coalition; providing suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention guidance to stakeholders; working with community organizations to promote best practices in suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention; overseeing suicide-related funding application processes and seeking grant funds; preparing an annual report regarding the office’s work and progress; creating and updating the state’s Suicide Prevention Plan.

Each year in recent years, about 130 Delawareans have committed suicide – with that number on a sad upward trend. That may not sound like a high number, but even one suicide in Delaware is too many. Suicide has a large ripple effect throughout victims’ families, friends, and communities. Obviously, a family member’s suicide is devastating to the remaining family members and to many other individuals who were part of that individual’s life. According to a study from the Centre for Suicide Prevention, every suicide affects the lives of 135 people. Also, individuals in certain communities are more likely than others to attempt suicide, including veterans, racial minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

I look forward to continuing to partner with advocates, state agencies and other elected officials next year and beyond to pass more suicide-related legislation. For example, I am working to pass HB 174, which would offer financial assistance to families and individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide. Currently, victims of violent crime and surviving family members can apply for funding through the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to assist with things like crime scene cleanup, lost wages, and counseling. However, families and individuals of suicide victims cannot apply for these funds because suicide is not a crime (and of course, we do not want to criminalize suicide). HB 174 would establish such a fund.

Firearms play a major role in suicide. Over half of American suicides are committed by firearm, nearly six of every 10 gun deaths in the U.S. are gun suicides, and suicide attempts by firearm are much more likely to be successful than suicides attempted by other means. For these reasons, two years ago, I worked with law enforcement and other supportive stakeholders to pass HB 342, the Voluntary Firearms Do-Not-Sell Registry Act. The act allows individuals to voluntarily and temporarily add themselves to a registry, preventing them from purchasing firearms. I am working to expand the law to allow for registration online, registration by healthcare providers at an individual’s request and the voluntary, temporary relinquishment of registrants’ currently owned firearms.

This isn’t just about passing legislation. It’s about continuing to chip away at the stigma associated with suicidal ideation, suicide, and mental health and substance abuse issues. I have been open about my past suicidal ideation at three points in my life, including in college when I was considering coming out. Jennifer Antonik of DJ’s Alliance says, “It's important to remember that we don't owe anyone our stories. It's alright to hold them close to our hearts. But sharing our stories safely as a means of sharing hope can be healing for ourselves and others.”