August 30, 2007

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GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE
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TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today appointed Wayne Goodman, Marshall Knudson and Steve Roggenbaum to the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.

“The Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council will develop and implement a statewide strategy to reduce Florida’s suicide rate,” said Governor Crist. “I am hopeful that through their work, fewer families and communities will be affected by suicide.”

Earlier this year, Governor Crist signed House Bill 139 establishing the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council. The legislation also established the Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention within the Florida Office of Drug Control. The Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council will serve in an advisory capacity to the Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention. In addition to the four gubernatorial appointments, the legislation designated 24 additional state agency and stakeholders as council members.

“Our statewide partners are extremely proud of the opportunity this legislation provides,” said Director Bill Janes of the Florida Office of Drug Control. “Tragically, six Floridians lose their lives every day to suicide, which is preventable in many cases. Our new state office and this council will help reverse this trend.”

Gubernatorial appointments to the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council announced today are as follows:

Wayne Goodman, 55, of Gainesville, department chair of psychiatry with University of Florida College of Medicine, appointed for a term beginning August 30, 2007, and ending July 1, 2010.

Marshall Knudson, 55, of Gainesville, director of Alachua County Crisis Center, appointed for a term beginning August 30, 2007, and ending July 1, 2011.

Stephen Roggenbaum, 50, of Lutz, assistant in research, the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, appointed for a term beginning August 30, 2007, and ending July 1, 2011.