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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"High Tower Text","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-US">FYI
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"High Tower Text","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"High Tower Text","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">News from the Washington State House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">February 10, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">House approves Orwall’s suicide-prevention measure
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">OLYMPIA – A measure requiring certain health professionals in Washington state to complete training in suicide assessment,
treatment, and management as part of their continuing education requirements passed the House Floor today with overwhelming support on a 92-5 vote.
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2366&year=2011"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">HB 2366</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">,
the Matt Adler Suicide Assessment, Treatment, & Management Act of 2012, is designed to enable health care professionals to better identify individuals at risk of suicide and perform prevention-related services.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Matt Adler, an attorney, husband and father of two, took his own life in February 2011 while in the midst of a battle
with severe depression and an anxiety disorder. He was 40 years old. His family believes Matt would still be among us if early detection and competent care in the treatment of suicidal thoughts had been available to him.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">“I have no doubt in my mind that Matt’s tragic loss could have been prevented with the right diagnosis and treatment,”
said </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="http://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-tina-orwall/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Rep. Tina Orwall</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">,
the bill’s prime sponsor. “Washington is in the top third in the nation in terms of suicide rates, and yet we do not have a comprehensive statewide suicide prevention plan that includes individuals of all ages.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">While Washington does have a
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/emstrauma/injury/ysp/YSP_Plan.htm"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">statewide suicide
prevention plan for youth</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"> that was created in 1995, due to funding restrictions many recommendations in that ambitious plan have yet to be addressed.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">The Des Moines Democrat, who sits in the
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/jointcommittees/JCVMA/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif"">Joint Committee
on Veterans' and Military Affairs</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">, also said suicide is a growing problem in our military bases. “Last year 12 soldiers at Joint Base Lewis McChord took their
own lives. That’s up from nine suicides in 2010. We have to do something to keep these statistics from escalating and this can’t wait; lives are at risk right now, as we speak.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Under Orwall’s bill, certain licensed health professionals would be required to complete six hours of training in
suicide assessment, treatment, and management every six years as a part of their continuing education requirements. Physicians would have to complete the training every 8 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">“Health professionals are licensed by the state with the expectation they will protect the public, but we’ve been
falling short of that goal when it comes to suicide,” said Orwall. “With the development of training programs in suicide assessment, treatment, and management, Washington’s health professionals will be better able to meet the needs of our residents.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Suicide is a major public health problem. In 2009, more than 36,000 people in the U.S. died by suicide; that’s the
equivalent of one major airliner filled with passengers crashing every two days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">“When you tell the average person that you can’t be assured that their health care professional knows what to do
if someone is suicidal, they are shocked. This is a failure of our health care system,” said Jennifer Stuber, Matt Adler’s widow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Washington state has a suicide rate that is higher than the national average. Youth, veterans, and older adults
are at particularly high risk of suicide. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">In King County, the Medical Examiner investigated 253 suicides in 2009, the highest number in seven years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">This piece of legislation will ensure suicide assessment, treatment, and management becomes a core competency of
continuing education for medical professionals. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Orwall’s measure is headed to the Senate for further consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Contact:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Rep. Tina Orwall 360-786-7834;
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="mailto:tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span lang="FR" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Print quality portrait photo:<b>
</b></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/publishingimages/orwall.jpg"><span lang="FR" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/publishingimages/orwall.jpg</span></a></span><span lang="FR" style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span lang="FR" style="color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Communications staff:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Lilia P. Nieto (360) 786-7375,
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="mailto:lilia.nieto@leg.wa.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">lilia.nieto@leg.wa.gov</span></a></span><span style="color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><u><span style="color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:115%"><u><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Radio and TV News Directors</span></u><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">: To obtain broadcast-quality
audio on these issues, or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact House Democratic Caucus Broadcast Coordinator Dan Frizzell<b>
</b>at </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><a href="mailto:dan.frizzell@leg.wa.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">dan.frizzell@leg.wa.gov</span></a></span><span style="color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">
or (360) 786-7208.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="color:blue"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in">
<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Simple steps to writing your state Senator</span><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">1.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Go to </span>
<span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">http://www.leg.wa.gov/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">2.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Click on ‘Find Your Legislator’ on the top left menu bar</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">3.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Type in your name and address, your Senator will pop up</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">4.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Click on that Senator’s name and then his/ her email address</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">5.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Enter your name, address, whether you care to receive a response from your senator and the bill number SHB2366</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in">
<b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Example Message:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0in">
<i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">I am writing to urge your support for SHB 2366. As a
<u>survivor, mental health provider, community advocate </u>(fill in an appropriate category) I know all too well that suicide is a major public health problem.
</span></i><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">In the State of Washington in 2009 there were 915 suicide deaths – nearly five times the number of homicides and twice as many deaths
as were attributed to motor vehicle accidents. And in 2009 there were also 3,707 admissions to Washington State hospitals as a result of suicidal behavior. The costs associated with suicide are staggering – billions are lost in future earnings and billions
are spent in hospitalizations and emergency room visits. These figures don’t even begin to touch the personal costs for schools, organizations, communities and families when these tragedies occur.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">It is critical that our health and mental health professionals receive adequate training to appropriately assess, treat and manage
this behavior. Unfortunately many are inadequately trained – or not trained at all. I find it ironic that practitioners in Washington State are required to receive specific education on HIV/AIDS as a part of licensure and it is not even among the 20 leading
causes of death, while there is currently no requirement to address suicide which causes
<u>significantly</u> more deaths? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">All health and mental health professionals currently have standards regarding the number of hours that are required for license of
their renewal; this legislation does not alter that amount. It simply requires the practitioner to receive a specified number of those hours in the assessment, treatment and management of suicide risk.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">The general public assumes that health care professionals have the skills to help a person who is suicidal, but the fact is that
<u>we can’t count on this</u>. By supporting this legislation you are helping to save lives. Thank you!
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Name
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Home address
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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