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Georgia

Learn more about suicide and prevention efforts in Georgia, including a list of laws enacted in AFSP's top priority areas. Updated: February 2024.

Georgia suicide prevention plans and initiatives

Georgia’s Suicide Prevention Program was created by statute (§ 37-1-27) and is housed within the Office of Behavioral Health Prevention, Division of Behavioral Health at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), where you can find the most recent Annual Suicide Prevention Program Report: 2019, as well as information about mental health awareness and suicide prevention training, Georgia suicide prevention coalitions, and relevant legislation and policy.

In the summer of 2020, DBHDD released the updated Georgia Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan 2020-2025 to increase suicide prevention awareness across the state, develop and implement best clinical and preventive practices, and advance and disseminate knowledge about suicide and effective methods for prevention. Student suicide prevention resources are offered through the Department of Education, Office of Whole Child Supports.

Georgia laws

Key:

  • Required by law
  • Encouraged by law
  • No law in place

Crisis lines and 988 implementation

  • Addresses 988 infrastructure and provides for telecom user fee
  • Addresses 988 infrastructure but does not include telecom user fee
  • 988 law limited to creating an exploratory commission, advisory committee, or task force

Mental health parity

  • Public health plans (e.g., Medicaid) regularly submit parity compliance analyses to state regulators
  • Private health plans (individual and group) regularly submit parity compliance analyses to state regulators

K – 12 school suicide prevention

  • Inclusion of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and/or other crisis line(s) on student ID cards
  • Student allowances for excused mental health absences
  • School personnel must report student suicide risk to a parent and/or guardian
  • Suicide prevention and/or mental health training for certain school personnel, annual
  • Suicide prevention and/or mental health training for certain school personnel, not annual
  • Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policies/programming
  • Student education on suicide prevention

Health professional training in suicide assessment, treatment and management

  • Mental health professionals receive regular training
  • Mental health professionals receive one time training
  • Medical/surgical professionals receive regular training
  • Medical/surgical professionals receive one time training

Conversion therapy bans

  • Prohibits licensed/board certified mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with minors under 18 years of age
  • Prohibits licensed/board certified mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with vulnerable adults
  • Prohibits use of state funds for any purpose related to conversion therapy (e.g., conducting, making a referral for, or extending health benefits coverage for)

University and college campus suicide prevention

  • Inclusion of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and/or other crisis line(s) on student ID cards
  • Students receive information on available mental health and/or suicide prevention services and/or resources
  • Adoption of suicide prevention/awareness policy or program

Advocate for suicide prevention

Learn how our volunteer Field Advocates are helping to pass suicide prevention legislation and policies that can save lives