HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 873

BYRepresentatives Valle, Jacobsen and Wineberry

Authorizing a study on teenage suicide.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (7)

     Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, Moyer, Padden, Sutherland and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES MARCH 4, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Adolescence is a time of intense pressure and demand from not only the changes in one's own body but from the media, school, friends, and parents.  Sadly, one response to these pressures has been the taking of one's own life.  Suicide rates among teens have increased some 300 percent in the last 20 years.  Three to six percent of all teens will have attempted suicide within the last year.  Nationwide, some 3 per 200,000 teens ages 11 to 14, and some 17 per 200,000 teens ages 15 to 19 commit suicide each year.  Some 50 percent of all attempts also show a measurable amount of drugs or alcohol in the victim's body.  In order to understand this tragic problem, as well as collect state-specific data, a study is suggested.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  A study on teenage suicide shall be instigated by the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services.  The results of the study shall be reported to the appropriate committees of the legislature in one year from the effective date of the act.  The act expires December 1, 1988.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The report to the legislature shall be to the appropriate committees of the appropriate committees of the legislature.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Representative Georgette Valle, Bill Sponsor.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Teen suicide is a very serious problem.  Data is not currently available on the numbers and causes regarding this problem in Washington state.  This study should help not only to provide some of the baseline data but point the way toward possible solutions and prevention strategies.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.