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State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure

A strong state infrastructure serves as a solid foundation for effective, comprehensive, and sustained suicide prevention. Working with a panel of experts, SPRC developed these recommendations to help you identify and strengthen key elements of suicide prevention infrastructure in your community.

The recommendations are organized into six essential elements with specific guidance in each area. You can read the recommendations and real-life examples from around the United States on each essential element page: Authorize, Lead, Partner, Examine, Build and Guide.

Download the full recommendations or a summary of recommendations.

Authorize

  • Designate a lead division or organization
  • Identify and secure resources required to carry out all six essential functions
  • Maintain a state suicide prevention plan that is updated every 3-5 years

Lead

  • Maintain a dedicated leadership position
  • Dedicate core staff positions, training, and technology needed for all six essential functions
  • Develop capacity to respond to information requests from officials, communities, the media, and the general public

Partner

  • Form a statewide coalition with broad public and private sector representation
  • Adopt a shared vision and language across partners

Guide

  • Ensure the ability to plan, provide, and evaluate guidance for state, county, and local efforts
  • Identify and allocate resources needed to guide state, country, and local efforts

Build

  • Build a multifaceted, lifespan approach to suicide prevention across the state, in concert with the state plan:
    • Understand, develop, and enforce expert-informed policies and regulations that support suicide prevention
    • Strengthen the crisis system and policies, including mobile response and hotlines
    • Establish policies and model practices in preparation for post suicide response, including the event of a suicide cluster
    • Promote “upstream” strategies that proactively prevent suicide risk and enhance protective factors
  • Designate sufficient funding to carry out or support a multifaceted approach
  • Develop the ability to evaluate and share results

Examine

  • Maintain a dedicated leadership position
  • Dedicate core staff positions, training, and technology needed for all six essential functions
  • Develop capacity to respond to information requests from officials, communities, the media, and the general public
  • Establish formal connections between relevant government offices
  • Build staff capacity to effectively communicate across audiences
  • Develop division/agency commitment to spur cross-discipline collaboration and integrate programs across funding sources