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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>359718</law_id><section_number>32.1-73.7</section_number><catch_line>Department to be lead agency for youth suicide prevention</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="75" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="2">Disease Prevention and Control</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="20" identifier="14">Youth Suicide Prevention</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, in consultation with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Education, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, <span class="dictionary">community services</span> <span class="dictionary">boards</span> and behavioral health authorities, and local <span class="dictionary">departments</span> of health, shall have the lead responsibility for the youth suicide prevention program within the Commonwealth. This responsibility includes coordination of the activities of the agencies of the Commonwealth pertaining to youth suicide prevention in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to develop and carry out comprehensive youth suicide prevention strategies addressing public awareness, the promotion of health development, early identification, intervention and treatment, and support to survivors. The strategies shall be targeted to the specific needs of children and adolescents. The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall cooperate with federal, state and local agencies, private and public agencies, survivor groups and other interested <span class="dictionary">persons</span> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to prevent youth suicide within the Commonwealth.</p><p>The provisions of this section shall not limit the powers and duties of other state agencies.</p></section></text><history>2001, cc. 275, 291; 2003, c. 885; 2005, cc. 336, 434; 2009, cc. 813, 840.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
