TO: PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND FROM: Sarah Zárate
STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE Carolina Camarena
SUBJECT: SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY DATE: May 30, 2023
ANNUAL REPORT
Approved Date
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the annual report on the City’s Suicide Prevention Policy including an update on the issue of suicide prevention and strategies to further promote the policy.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
Suicide is a major public health concern and an outcome that can often be prevented. Santa Clara County’s Behavioral Health Services established a Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan to reduce and prevent suicides in the County and provide services, training, and best practices for organizations and residents. The City of San José works to actively advance strategies identified in the County’s Strategic Plan through the City Council Policy on Suicide Prevention (Council Policy 0-45).
BACKGROUND
Suicide is a growing public health problem of national scope affecting all ages. To address local needs, the County of Santa Clara (County) published a Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan (County’s Strategic Plan) in October 2012.
1 As part of that Strategic Plan, on a fiscal year basis, the County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) publishes a Suicide Prevention Annual Report to measure the effectiveness of its Strategic Plan. (See Attachment A for the latest County Suicide Prevention Annual Report).
The Strategic Plan proposes several broad recommendations:
• Implement and coordinate suicide intervention programs and services for targeted highrisk populations; 1 https://bhsd.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb711/files/documents/2021-22%20SP%20Annual%20Report_Final%20Version.pdf PSFSS COMMITTEE AGENDA: 6/15/2023
ITEM: (d)1.
6/7/2023
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
May 30, 2023
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
• Implement a community education and information campaign to increase public awareness of suicide and suicide prevention;
• Develop local communication “best practices” to improve media coverage and public dialogue related to suicide;
• Implement a policy and governance advocacy initiative to promote systems change in suicide awareness and prevention; and
• Establish a robust data collection and data monitoring system to increase the scope and availability of suicide-related data and evaluate suicide prevention efforts.
On March 3, 2020, the San José City Council established City Council Policy 0-45 on Suicide Prevention (Attachment B), which provides guidance and information related to City employees, City facilities, and city residents.2 The City Council Policy on Suicide Prevention is in alignment with the County’s Strategic Plan.
ANALYSIS
Council Policy Description
The City of San José continues to implement its City Council Policy on Suicide Prevention, which was established on March 3, 2020. Under the policy, the City promotes strategies and resources provided by the County as well as the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, under the following guiding framework:
1. CITY EMPLOYEES. The Administration shares with its current employees and its Retiree Associations (the San José Retired Employees Association and the Association of Retired San José Police Officers and Firefighters) information that helps staff and retirees gain a better understanding of the causes of suicide and learn the appropriate methods for identifying and preventing the loss of life.
2. CITY FACILITIES. The Administration ensures that the City’s public safety protocols governing the City’s response to a suicide attempt on City facilities are reviewed annually to ensure all internal procedures are updated and address any needed support for employees that may be witnesses to such events. The Administration further ensures an appropriate communications strategy is in place if a suicide attempt occurs in a City facility by reflecting safe messaging best practices.
3. CITY RESIDENTS. The Administration actively collaborates with the Santa Clara County government to disseminate information including event information and resources as they become available.
2 https://www.sjpl.org/blog/mental-health-awareness-month-setting-self-care-motion
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
May 30, 2023
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
4. COORDINATION WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES. The Administration coordinates and collaborates with county, regional, and state efforts that advance the goals of the Strategic Plan.
Recent Actions Taken Advancing Council Policy on Suicide Prevention The City completed the following activities during the current reporting period March 2022 – May 2023:
1. CITY EMPLOYEES
▪ Communications were sent to current employees in September 2022 for Suicide Prevention Month and May 2023 to support raising awareness about Mental Health Awareness Month, to help improve knowledge and attitudes about mental health and suicide among adults in the community. The communication included links to community resources. Similar information was also shared with the leaders of both retiree associations in May 2023.
2. CITY FACILITIES
▪ There are no changes to the City’s Standard Operating Procedures, which were reviewed in May 2023 by the Public Works Department as required by Council Policy.
3. CITY RESIDENTS
▪ Social media communications were sent to City residents regarding Suicide Prevention Month in September 2022 that included crisis resources, health and self-care resources, and community outreach materials.
▪ Social media communications were sent to City residents regarding Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2023, which included sharing messaging from the County.
▪ The City provided several suicide prevention resources in its Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 30-day Roundup e-newsletter and mental health resources in the Wednesday, May 3, 2023, edition. Information included: a) crisis and suicide prevention lifeline hotlines, b) emotional health and self-care resources,3c) pronouncement of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, d) resources to support loved ones including how to access the County’s BHS, e) ways to participate in the County’s Suicide Prevention Volunteer Program, and f) Suicide 3 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/4347/7394
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
May 30, 2023
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
Prevention Resource Center with tips on how to take action to help prevent suicide in the community through story-telling and empowering others.4 ▪ The County’s Suicide Prevention Program5shares monthly e-newsletters with resources, events, trainings, and programs including the County’s Gun Buyback program, gun violence prevention, and campaigns geared toward minorities and women of color. The City disseminated this information. ▪ The Fire Department updated its Public Education website to include information and resources on Suicide Prevention and Crisis.6
The Police Department updated its Community Wellness Resources to include information and resources on mental health, counseling centers, crisis lines, community clinics, and the County’s suicide prevention hotline.7
4. COORDINATION WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES
▪ A City representative from the City Manager’s Office joins bi-monthly meetings of the County’s Suicide Prevention Oversight Committee to ensure increased collaboration on activities and messages to San José residents; 8 ▪ The City of San José invited Santa Clara County to participate in a Study Session focused on firearm safety and its intersection with mental health, intimate partner violence, and substance abuse in August 2022.
9 Update to Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee Annual Reporting At the March 3, 2020, City Council meeting, City Council directed staff to provide an annual report on the City’s Suicide Prevention Policy to the PSFSS Committee. Per Council Policy 0- 45, the City of San José partners with the County’s BHS and disseminates information to City employees, retirees, and residents during Suicide Prevention Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. The County’s BHS supports and delivers services to reduce and prevent suicides throughout the County and San José.
10 As the City and County BHS continue this work, going forward, staff will provide an annual Information Memorandum to the Mayor and City Council, and update the Fall 2023 PSFSS Work Plan, accordingly.
4 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5090/7394 5 https://bhsd.sccgov.org/information-resources/peer-support/newsletter 6 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/fire-department/public-education/health-andwellness/suicide-prevention-crisis 7 https://www.sjpd.org/community/community-services/wellness-resources 8 https://bhdp.sccgov.org/suicide-prevention-oversight-committee-spoc 9 https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9819199&GUID=1C13D215-45C9-4AB0-A857-F15E0E5F4559 10 https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=8159409&GUID=DBEE0586-8126-4184-8A6D-41CDEF395E5B
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
May 30, 2023
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
County’s 2021-2022 Suicide Prevention Annual Report
The County publishes a Suicide Prevention Annual Report to document its progress in implementing the County’s Strategic Plan. The most recent report includes a reporting period of July 2021 - June 2022.
11 It is important to note that while the reporting is for the fiscal year 2021-22, the data analyzed is primarily focused through 2020, with some preliminary analysis of 2021 data. Some highlights of countywide activities are shown in Figure 1. “After a three-year decline from 2014-2017, the County’s suicide count and rate increased to 148 deaths (7.6 per 100,000) in 2018 and 169 deaths (8.8 per 100,000) in 2019. The 2019 count and rate represent a 10-year high for the County. Initial 2020 data analysis indicates a count of 164 suicide deaths. The 2021 data is currently being analyzed but the suicide count within the County was 154 which represents a continued decreasing trend for the number of suicide deaths in Santa Clara County. This shows that suicides did not increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. ” 12 In Fiscal Year 2022, the County Medical Coroner Examiner launched a data dashboard indicating that:
▪ Increases in suicide occurred amongst older adults and remained the same for young adults;
▪ Highest suicide count was amongst the 45-64 age group of the white population; ▪ Highest rate of suicide was amongst the Pacific Islander population; ▪ Increases in suicide deaths occurred among the Asian community; ▪ Decreases in suicides occurred amongst the Black/African American population; 11 https://bhsd.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb711/files/documents/2021-22%20SP%20Annual%20Report_Final%20Version.pdf 12 https://bhsd.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb711/files/documents/2021-22%20SP%20Annual%20Report_Final%20Version.pdf Figure 1 Highlights from the County's Suicide
Prevention Annual Report
Figure 2 2016-2020 Suicides in Santa Clara County
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
May 30, 2023
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
▪ Two most predominant methods of suicide death (firearm and hanging) saw declines; ▪ Areas with the highest rate include South County, South San José, Campbell, Milpitas, Mountain View, and Alum Rock; and
▪ Mental health was the leading stressor.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
The City of San José and the County of Santa Clara BHS will continue their partnership to help reduce and prevent suicide. Staff will continue providing updates to the Mayor and City Council through annual Information Memorandums and will amend the Fall 2023 Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee Work Plan accordingly.
COORDINATION
This memorandum was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, the City Manager’s Budget Office, and Public Works Department.
/s/ /s/
SARAH ZARATE CAROLINA CAMARENA
Director of Administration, Policy, and
Intergovernmental Relations
Director of Communications
For questions, please contact Nora Chin, Assistant to the City Manager, at [email protected].
Attachments
Attachment A: 2021-2022 Suicide Prevention Annual Report, County of Santa Clara Attachment B: Council Policy 0-45, City of San José’s Suicide Prevention Policy