Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah House votes to require suicide‑prevention training as part of mental‑health continuing education
Summary
The House passed HB 209 to require two hours of suicide‑prevention content within existing continuing‑education requirements for specified mental‑health professionals; sponsors cited Utah’s high suicide rates and said the requirement will not increase overall CE hours. The bill passed 71–1 and advances to the Senate.
Representative Foss presented House Bill 209 to require specified mental‑health and allied professionals to include suicide‑prevention training within their existing continuing‑education (CE) requirements. The sponsor said Utah ranks among the top five states for suicide deaths and described suicide as a leading cause of death for Utah youth aged 10–17.
Under the bill, two hours of existing CE time across the professions enumerated in the bill—clinical mental‑health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, substance‑abuse counselors and similar practitioners—would be allocated to suicide‑awareness and prevention training; the change does not increase the overall number of CE hours required. Supporters cited research and prior state CE requirements that have saved lives and urged adoption.
Some floor members cautioned about adding CE mandates to already busy professionals and urged flexible delivery (including online options). The sponsor and supporters said the requirement will be administered within existing CE totals and that multiple professional associations and stakeholders reviewed the proposal.
The House voted and HB 209 passed 71–1. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.
