NH COALITION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION FALL NEWSLETTER
Committee To Study Palliative And Hospice Care In NH Submits Recommendations On Oct. 31st
While palliative care and hospice care are available in NH, substantial obstacles exist which prevent people from accessing care as widely as they should. These include staffing and bed availability; lack of awareness on the part of the public and even some providers; and the challenges faced by families and individuals regarding affordability and costs not covered by insurance.
SB 248, a bill that established a study committee on palliative and hospice care, represents a critical first step in identifying and removing barriers to these essential services.
The legislative study committee included Sen. Kevin Avard; Sen. Suzanne Prentiss; Rep. Gary Woods; Rep. Mark Pearson and Rep. Samuel Farrington. They were charged with evaluating:
Access to palliative and hospice care across the state
Barriers preventing patients and families from receiving necessary support
Special considerations for people with disabilities, dementia, long-term care recipients, and veterans
Opportunities for improving care coordination and availability
There is general confusion by many about the difference between hospice and palliative care. Palliative care is for long-term symptom management with a curative goal, whereas hospice care generally is relegated to the last 6 months of life and helps patients and families navigate the end of life.
Palliative care is not on a “bundled payment model”, making it more difficult for patients to be sure they will be covered for all palliative care services. Another issue is that more aggressive treatments oftentimes are not covered by insurance. While inpatient services are covered by insurance, that is not always true of room and board at hospice houses. Because not all services are covered together, insurance companies end up not covering care up front that could lead to better chances long term. The atomization of care, as opposed to an integrated care model, has created silos for patients’ healthcare providers and it has made getting the right care more difficult. Forcing patients to see different specialists for every issue as opposed to one palliative care provider to coordinate their care increases the cost and difficulty of receiving proper care.
The committee’s recommendations include:
Trainings in Hospice & Palliative Care Options
Paying For Licenses Nursing Assistants (LNAs) To Combat Staffing Shortages
Cost Reduction Measures – including “Step Therapy for patients, allowing them to skip certain clerical processes to get directly to the treatment and the medication they want and that is best suited to their diagnosis and increasing access to tele-health palliative care
Insurance & Payment Changes clarified by the Dept. of Insurance (DOI)
Hospice Society Launches “Guardian Angels” Program In Canada
A hospice society in Canada has launched a program called "Guardian Angels" aimed at protecting Canadians from possibly being euthanized against their will.
Founded in 1991 in British Columbia, the Delta Hospice Society (DHS) is trying to support ill and vulnerable Canadians within the health care system by providing them with trained volunteer advocates who prioritize the sanctity of life over euthanasia and offer compassionate support.
These "angels" ensure patients receive proper health care and palliative care while safeguarding them from pressures related to the country's euthanasia program, known as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).
"We are seeking patients in hospitals, hospices, long-term care, palliative care or those with chronic or terminal illnesses who would like an 'angel,'" said DHS President Angelina Ireland. Ireland explained that the past three years have been tough for the Society. Despite the setbacks, the DHS has relied on patience and faith to continue offering programs like "Guardian Angels," consistent with their commitment to providing palliative care and protecting life. Patients or their families can contact DHS to request an "angel”. For more information, contact: https://deltahospicesociety.org/guardian-angels/
Suicide Prevention Council Conference: Theme: “Embracing Hope: Transforming Adversity Into Resilience”
The Suicide Prevention Council’s annual conference was held on Thursday, Nov. 13th from 8 a.m. – noon at the Puritan Conference Center in Manchester.
Each year, the conference brings individuals, businesses, education, public health, mental health, and caregivers together to share, learn and expand the development of suicide prevention efforts and to provide support for survivors of suicide loss and attempt survivors. This year’s national keynote speaker was Joyce Chu, Ph.D.
For more information about NH Suicide Prevention Council, visit https://preventsuicidenh.org/.
Our Youth At Risk: American Psychiatric Association Finds Alarming Rates Of Suicidal Thoughts Among High School Students
Gov. Ayotte Highlights New Hampshire’s Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Efforts
During a September press conference officially proclaiming September as Suicide Prevention Month, NH Gov. Ayotte stated that NH’s effort are "not just about a proclamation" but also about "saving lives, saving families, and fighting the mental health stigma".
Strengthening NH’s Mental Health Resources: Those experiencing a crisis can call or text 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which connects to the state's New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point (NHRRAP), offering 24/7 crisis counseling and support. You can also visit nh988.com for more information or to chat with a crisis counselor. For general community resources, you can dial 2-1-1.
Focus on youth and seniors: Ayotte noted that suicide remains the second-leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 34 in New Hampshire and that the rate is highest for those over 65.
Help Is Available & NH Residents Are Reaching Out: In 2024, the state's community crisis centers fielded 46,000 contacts via phone, text, and chat. Ayotte encouraged anyone with a “feeling in your gut” to reach out for help.
Piscataqua River Bridge task force: Ayotte acknowledged the formation of a task force to address the increase in suicide attempts on the Piscataqua River Bridge.
AMA Opposes Physician-Assisted Suicide
The AMA reaffirmed its opposition to physician-assisted suicide (PAS) during its June 2025 meeting. Key points of their position:
Fundamentally incompatible with healing. The AMA Code of Medical Ethics maintains that PAS is “fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as a healer.”
Serious societal risks. The AMA believes that allowing PAS is “difficult or impossible to control and would pose serious societal risks.”
Calls for aggressive end-of-life care. Instead of assisting in suicide, the AMA emphasizes that physicians should aggressively respond to the needs of dying patients by providing comfort care, effective pain management, emotional support and respect for patient autonomy.
Addresses unmet needs. The organization views a patient’s request for assisted suicide as a signal that their needs are not being met. This should prompt further evaluation and intervention, including hospice care, pastoral support and family counseling.
Clarified terminology. In 2025, the AMA’s Board of Trustees rejected euphemistic terminology like “Medical Aid In Dying” (MAID), stating that such ambiguous terms could be confused with palliative care and would not provide clear ethical guidance.
For more information about suicide prevention efforts in NH, visit www.zerosuicidesnh.org.