Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/11/2002 03:03 PM House HES
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT MEETING
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 11, 2002
3:03 p.m.
HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Fred Dyson, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Reggie Joule
HOUSE MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chair
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Wilken
Senator Bettye Davis
SENATE MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Jerry Ward
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Brian Porter
Representative Mary Kapsner
Senator Rick Halford
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: AK SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR RICK HALFORD
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided comments on suicide in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PORTER
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Expressed his enthusiasm about the Alaska
Suicide Prevention Council.
AGNES SWEETSIR, Vice Chair
Alaska Suicide Prevention Council
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed suicide.
SUSAN SOULE, Member
Suicide Prevention Council;
Program Manager of Treatment and Rural Services
Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Department of Health and Social Services
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed Alaska's suicide rate.
JEANINE SPARKS, Member
Alaska Council of Suicide Prevention;
Guidance Counselor, Wasilla High School
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed youth suicide.
CAROL SEPPILU
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Ms. Seppilu's testimony was read by Ms.
Sweetsir.
MARY CARLSON, Coordinator
Alaska Suicide Prevention Council
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed the council's priorities for the
upcoming year.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-30, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the joint meeting of the House Health,
Education and Social Services Standing Committee and Senate
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee to
order at 3:03 p.m. Representatives Dyson, Coghill, Stevens,
Cissna, and Joule and Senators Green and Davis were present at
the call to order. Representatives Wilson and Kohring and
Senator Wilken arrived as the meeting was in progress. Also in
attendance were Representatives Porter and Kapsner and Senators
Halford and Lincoln.
OVERVIEW: AK SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL
CHAIR DYSON announced that the committees would hear from the
Alaska Suicide Prevention Council. He acknowledged the presence
of Senator Halford and Representative Porter.
Number 0093
SENATOR RICK HALFORD, Alaska State Legislature, thanked the
committees for this hearing. He noted that [the Alaska Suicide
Prevention Council] was a priority last year. One hundred and
thirty Alaskans are lost [to suicide] a year. Suicide is
probably one of the most underreported causes of death.
Depending upon the category, statistics report that Alaska is
losing people to suicide at a rate one to five times the
national average. Alaska has not had an ongoing, coordinated
suicide prevention council until the Alaska Suicide Prevention
Council which is permanent.
Number 0240
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN PORTER, Alaska State Legislature, informed
the committee that his interest in this issue can be attributed
to his background in law enforcement. In law enforcement,
Representative Porter has been the first responder to many of
these tragic events. He noted that he has been a board member
of Crisis, Inc. in Anchorage, which was a crisis line for
suicide. Representative Porter said he is enthused about the
people involved in the council. He noted that there are some
modest requests in the budget in order to fund the activities of
the council, specifically a follow-up study.
Number 0350
AGNES SWEETSIR, Vice Chair, Alaska Suicide Prevention Council,
thanked everyone for their interest and commitment to suicide
prevention in the state. Ms. Sweetsir informed the committee
that she has a personal interest in suicide prevention because
she has lost three brothers and three nephews to suicide. In
her life, she estimated that she has had 50 significant people
commit suicide. Ms. Sweetsir announced that today's
presentation would provide everyone with a picture of what the
council is doing and intends to do as well as gain input from
those present today. She noted that the committees should have
a draft report.
Number 0530
SUSAN SOULE, Member, Suicide Prevention Council; Program Manager
of Treatment and Rural Services, Division of Alcoholism and Drug
Abuse, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS),
explained that discussions regarding suicide often refer to the
suicide rate, which is the number of suicides per 100,000
people. The suicide rate is a way of comparing the State of
Alaska with the United States as a whole. She said that 1998
there were 131 recorded deaths by suicide, which was a typical
year for Alaska. However, the actual number may be two to three
times that amount. The 131 deaths represent a suicide rate of
23.7 per 100,000 people. In the same year the rate in the
United States as a whole was 11.3 per 100,000 people.
Therefore, Alaska's suicide rate is about twice that of the
United States as a whole. With regard to specific subgroups of
Alaskans, the differences between the U.S. rates and Alaskan
rates are even larger. The rate of suicide for Native males in
1998 was 73.5 per 100,000 people, which is approximately seven
times the rate of suicide in the U.S. as a whole. The rate of
suicide for youth, 15 to 24 year olds, in Alaska in 1998 was
53.8 per 100,000 people while the [youth] rate for the U.S. as a
whole was 11.1. Therefore, Alaska is losing youth of all races
at a suicide rate that is five times greater than that of the
U.S. as a whole. This is hard to discuss, she said. Alaska
needs to do better. The council, with the legislature's
support, offers hope of improving those rates.
MS. SOULE pointed out that suicide isn't evenly distributed
geographically and thus the rates in some areas are much higher
than in other areas. There is three years of data available,
1995-1997. The suicide rates in the arctic coastal regions are
far higher than suicide rates in other parts of the state. With
an even closer review, one can see the pockets of high suicide
rates in specific communities. When one thinks about suicide
prevention, the questions regarding who is most at risk and
their location should be asked. The council offers the
opportunity to learn such details, she pointed out.
Number 0820
JEANINE SPARKS, Member, Alaska Council of Suicide Prevention;
Guidance Counselor, Wasilla High School; informed the committee
that she has been involved with suicide for the last ten years.
Ten years ago this week, her brother-in-law completed a suicide.
Ms. Sparks offered her gratitude to be able to work on the
council, to which she believes she can bring much experience
with youth and the referral agencies. She informed the
committee that in February she interviewed five students who
have been suicidal and/or homicidal and have been hospitalized
for that. Those interviews were recorded and the council
listened to those recordings in order "to put a face" on this
issue. Furthermore, a group of students from villages
throughout the state spoke to the council. Some of the common
themes from that group of students were the feeling of being
alone and isolated. Although she felt that many of the feelings
of those students were typical of adolescents, their feelings
were extreme. Those students were without coping abilities and
resources. A common theme related by the students was the need
for someone who really cared to listen to them. Furthermore,
gratefulness was expressed for those parents who came forward
and helped. Some of the students in this group highlighted the
great impact of alcoholism and addiction in their family life
and village.
Number 0970
MS. SWEETSIR read Carol Seppilu's testimony as follows:
My name is Carol Seppilu, I'm 19 years old, and I live
in Nome but am originally from St. Lawrence Island.
Two-and-a-half years ago I attempted suicide while I
was under the influence of alcohol. This devastated
my family, friends, and I, because it was very
preventable.
For two years now I've been working with many
different people and in many different places on
raising the awareness of suicide prevention. The
reason why I do this is because I don't want others to
go through what I've been going through for the past
two years.
In my community and region I have been invited many
times to make presentations about suicide prevention
and about my experiences. I helped form a suicide
prevention workshop in the Nome Beltz High School.
There are a group of kids who volunteer to go to
villages and talk about suicide prevention and right
now they are still doing that, I think it's very
successful.
I'm very grateful for this Suicide Prevention Council
and I have great confidence in it. I hope that we
will make a positive difference for our State of
Alaska.
MS. SWEETSIR mentioned that the council has made a concerted
effort to hear the voices of Alaska youth. Therefore, having
Ms. Seppilu on the council has been very valuable. Ms. Sweetsir
related her experience that youth are willing to discuss this
problem in order to find solutions.
Number 1100
MARY CARLSON, Coordinator, Alaska Suicide Prevention Council,
said that she would discuss the priorities set by the council
for the coming year. The average of 130 completed suicides
annually amounts to three completed suicides per week. Even
with the knowledge regarding suicide, there is still the need to
establish a more comprehensive and detailed picture of the
problem of suicide in Alaska. "We need to understand why there
are three completed suicides per week," she said. Most of those
suicides are of Alaskans that are 25 years of age or younger.
"If we can make a difference, we'll be making a difference in
the life span of that individual of 15 more years," she said.
The impact goes beyond the individual to the local community and
state as a whole. In order to achieve this, there must be an
understanding of the causal factors that lead people to attempt
suicide. Furthermore, better statistics need to be developed.
Therefore, the council will be conducting listening sessions
during which the general public, survivors, and professionals
have an opportunity to provide information to the council
regarding suicide issues, prevention, and treatment in local
communities. The council has stressed the need for each
community to have a voice in the solutions implemented in their
community. In fact, the cause of suicide may vary from region
to region.
MS. CARLSON explained that part of what will occur is the
development of a detailed council work plan with the goal of
implementing a comprehensive and coordinated Alaska suicide
prevention plan. Although Alaska has the second highest suicide
rate, per capita, in the nation, Alaska doesn't have a statewide
suicide prevention plan. Such a plan provides a framework from
which to deal with this problem and pull together efforts from
the various divisions and groups that would be involved.
Furthermore, part of the council's role will be to find out what
efforts are already available for suicide prevention. This
knowledge will allow the council to identify gaps in service in
order to address those gaps. Ms. Carlson said, "In the coming
year we hope to develop a statewide suicide prevention plan that
uses input from Alaskans, includes best practice data, ... and
to use information from other state plans that may apply to our
state but always realizing that Alaska is unique." At the same
time this information is being gathered, the council will also
inform the public about suicide, suicide prevention, and the
council's activities. Throughout all the council's activities,
it will emphasize that suicide is a preventable public health
problem. Ms. Carlson said that decreasing the stigma associated
with seeking help can decrease the suicide rate in Alaska.
Therefore, the council would become a statewide resource for all
Alaskans.
MS. SWEETSIR asked the other council members to introduce
themselves. Mike Irwin, Mark MacDonald, Karen Perdue, and Jay
Livey introduced themselves. Ms. Sweetsir offered to answer any
questions.
Number 1359
CHAIR DYSON, from his limited experience, commented that
survivors of attempted suicides and/or completed suicides suffer
the rest of their lives. These people question what they
could've done differently to change the situation. He asked Ms.
Sweetsir to describe that situation.
MS. SWEETSIR informed the committee that she has a Master's
degree in social work and she worked in child protection for 18-
and-a-half years. Still, she has had many family members and
children she has worked with through the Division of Family &
Youth Services (DFYS) commit suicide. Therefore, she constantly
questions what she could've done differently. Such situations
haunt a person for the rest of their life. Many people don't
have the opportunity or resources to turn it into something
positive as she has. Therefore, many of these people become
alcoholics, drug addicts, victims or perpetrators of domestic
violence. It's difficult to hold a family together [after
something like this happens]. These situations are especially
difficult in small communities that are traumatized [by suicide]
over and over.
CHAIR DYSON surmised that there would be a significant
correlation between those who attempt suicide and those who were
abused, particularly those who were sexually abused as children.
He suspected that there would also be a correlation between
prenatal alcohol poisoning and suicide attempts. He requested
that any such findings be related to him.
MS. SWEETSIR agreed to relate [any findings] to Chair Dyson.
CHAIR DYSON expressed the desire to have a more formal
presentation next year before both the House and Senate Health,
Education and Social Services Standing Committees as well as
before the Children's Caucus.
Number 1565
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS questioned how [the council] will know
whether it has been successful or not if the true rate of
suicide isn't known. He asked what can be done to ensure that
reporting is accurate.
MS. SOULE remarked that an improvement in the data we do know
would be a measure of success. However, she said that Vital
Statistics is probably doing as good a job as possible in terms
of accurately recording what is reported. The issue is that
there is still a stigma attached to suicide deaths and thus
suicide deaths are underreported. Education will help achieve
more accurate reporting. [Once more accurate reporting occurs]
it will look as if the problem is growing, she pointed out.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON commended everyone on the council.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA noted that when she was working as a
crisis line counselor, she experienced someone in her family
committing suicide. She informed the committee, "The things
that you read say that when someone has decided and you say all
the right things and they are resolved, they protect themselves
... and they don't give you the information that would help you
do what you need to do." She assumed that the aforementioned
accounts for some of the underreporting. Representative Cissna
related her belief that suicide is the ultimate cry for help for
an entire society. "It's a symptom of something really wrong,"
she said.
Number 1714
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE recalled a meeting he attended in Huslia,
which he recalled as the first gender-specific meetings. He
related his belief that such meetings go a long way [in
addressing problems]. He pointed out that times are changing
and thus people's roles are changing as well. Therefore,
[gender-specific meetings] offer a situation in which groups can
talk [freely] across the generations. He noted that how to
adjust the "mental screws" plays a factor in that. With regard
to survivors, Representative Joule pointed out that there are
religious factors attached to the stigma of suicide. That issue
has to be addressed in dealing with survivors. Representative
Joule remarked that although the discussion is currently only
about completed suicides, he suggested that the attempts are
probably more alarming. The attempts can't be ignored [as this
issue is addressed]. Of the utmost importance is that whatever
is started now must continue.
CHAIR DYSON highlighted that three of the common denominators
for those [attempting] suicide are people who felt alone and
wanted attention and had very few tools to cope with that
[loneliness]. These are areas in which individuals accomplish
things better than the government. He encouraged everyone to
seek out those lonely people that need someone to reach out to
them. The other side of this are the common denominators with
regard to those who don't commit suicide.
Number 1975
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said that Alaska has a wonderful way of
celebrating remembrance of [those who have passed]. However, he
questioned whether it's done too well because it may seem more
glorifying to go out "that way" rather than stay and face the
challenges of life. Representative Coghill expressed the need
to address this situation.
MS. SWEETSIR remarked that much is left to learn with regard to
the choice of suicide. Many who commit suicide are ill.
Furthermore, there is a strong connection between alcoholism and
suicide. All such connections need to be reviewed and
addressed.
MS. CARLSON pointed out that page 2 of the draft report speaks
to protective factors that are effective in suicide prevention.
CHAIR DYSON thanked the council for its work.
ADJOURNMENT
The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:42 p.m. in order to
prepare for its regular meeting. [The minutes for the meeting
following this overview can be found under the 3:43 p.m. minutes
for this date.]
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