Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act, 2021, SS 2021, c 1

1 SASKATCHEWAN STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, 2021 c 1 The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act, 2021 being Chapter 1 of the Statutes of Saskatchewan, 2021 (effective April 30, 2021). NOTE: This consolidation is not official. Amendments have been incorporated for convenience of reference and the original statutes and regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpretation and application of the law. In order to preserve the integrity of the original statutes and regulations, errors that may have appeared are reproduced in this consolidation. 2 c 1 SASKATCHEWAN STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, 2021 Table of Contents 1 Short title 2 Strategy for suicide prevention 3 Consultations 4 Report 5 Coming into force 3 SASKATCHEWAN STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, 2021 c 1 CHAPTER 1 An Act respecting a Provincial Strategy for Suicide Prevention Preamble WHEREAS suicide is a complex problem involving biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors, and can be influenced by societal attitudes and conditions; WHEREAS Canadians want to reduce suicide and its impact in Canada, and suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility; WHEREAS suicide is preventable by knowledge, care and compassion; WHEREAS concerted, collaborative action by committed communities, governments, organizations and individuals will help prevent deaths by suicide, and assist in educating and comforting those who have been affected by suicidal behaviour; WHEREAS suicide is a significant public health issue and the grief and trauma associated with it produce long-term social costs and devastating effects on surviving individuals and communities; WHEREAS the lack of access to mental health and addiction services in Northern Saskatchewan contributes to the high rates of suicide in Northern communities; NOW THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows: Short title 1 The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act, 2021. Strategy for suicide prevention 2(1) The Ministry of Health must establish a provincial strategy for suicide prevention that recognizes that suicide, in addition to being a mental health issue, is a public health issue and that it is a health and safety priority. (2) The Ministry of Health shall assume responsibility for: (a) providing guidelines to improve public awareness and knowledge about suicide; (b) disseminating information about suicide, including information concerning its prevention; (c) making publically available existing statistics about suicide and related risk factors; (d) promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange across domains, sectors, regions and jurisdictions; 4 c 1 SASKATCHEWAN STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, 2021 (e) defining best practices for the prevention of suicide; and (f) promoting the use of research and evidence-based practices for the prevention of suicide. 2021, c 1, s 2. Consultations 3 Within 180 days after the day on which this section comes into force, the Ministry of Health must enter into consultations with relevant non-governmental organizations, relevant entities within the governments of the provinces and territories and relevant federal departments, in order to share information and align the elements of the strategy described in section 2 with existing efforts that relate to suicide prevention. 2021, c 1, s 3. Report 4 Within two years after the coming into force of this Act and every year thereafter, the Ministry of Health must include in its annual report an update on its progress and activities related to the strategy for suicide prevention. 2021, c 1, s 4. Coming into force 5 This Act comes into force on Assent. 2021, c 1, s 5. REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN Printed by the authority of THE QUEEN’S PRINTER Copyright©2021