The Veterans Health Administration continues to enhance efforts to save Veterans lives by combating suicide. To do this the VA has developed “Reach Out.” The “Reach Out” website provides video testimonials from Veterans who have suffered from mental health concerns and received help at VA. The site also has resources for Veterans who need help and anyone who wishes to reach out to support Veterans.
The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat, or call anytime to reach a trained counselor.
Guides built for and with LGBTQ+ teens to help explore their identity and support their mental health.
VA Suicide Prevention 2.0-Public Health Strategy
The Veterans Health Administration has implemented a new public health strategy combines partnerships with communities to implement tailored, local prevention plans while also focusing on evidence based clinical strategies for intervention. A a PDF of the PowerPoint about this program is available at this link.
2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
The 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is a bold 10-year, comprehensive, whole-of-society approach to suicide prevention that provides concrete recommendations for addressing gaps in the suicide prevention field.
This strategy addresses suicide at the national, state, tribal, local, and territorial levels and relies upon critical partnerships across the public and private sectors. To ensure effective actions are advanced in accordance with the Federal Action Plan, people with lived experience have been and remain critical to the implementation of this strategy.
The National Strategy focuses on the many factors associated with suicide, with the recognition that there is no single solution. The National Strategy is accompanied by the first-ever Federal Action Plan, which identifies more than 200 actions across the Federal government to be taken over the next three years in support of those goals.
Michigan Suicide Prevention Plan (2024-2027)
The Michigan Suicide Prevention Plan for 2024–2027: A Systems Level Approach to Preventing Suicide was created through the work of a group of dedicated state partners that began in 2019 and was halted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The suicide prevention team at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) worked to finalize the plan in 2024. This plan provides a public health approach to addressing suicide rates affecting communities across Michigan through a multisectoral effort to build capacity, educate the public, and implement policy and organizational practices that care for our citizens, families, and communities. We invite you to review this plan and identify the steps you can take to help achieve the goals set forth to reduce suicide in Michigan.
The Now Matters Now website provides skills and support for coping with suicidal thoughts. Videos of people who share their stories and researched based ways to manage the most painful moments in life. There is also free online training and other resources.
The Change Direction initiative is a collection of concerned citizens, nonprofit leaders, and leaders from the private sector who have come together to change the culture in America about mental health, mental illness, and wellness. One of their goals is to encourage people to Learn the Five Signs of emotional suffering so they can recognize them in themselves or help a loved one who may be in emotional pain. In short, the Five Signs are personality change, agitation, withdrawal, decline in personal care, and hopelessness.
Mighty Parenting is a community that helps you raise teens and parent twentysomethings so they can become happy, successful and emotionally healthy adults! It includes a weekly podcast focused on real, raw, and relevant talk about raising teens and parenting twentysomethings in the 21st century. This is an initiative of DASIUM and is designed to create emotionally healthy families in order to prevent depression, addiction, and suicide. Access the podcast and get more information at http://mightyparenting.com
Apps:
Suicide Safety Plan App - This app for iPhone and iPad is designed to support those dealing with suicidal thoughts and help prevent suicide.
E-Books:
A Berrien County suicide attempt survivor and participant in the Berrien County Suicide Prevention coalition, has written a short memoir of her life. You may download it here for free. You may send her questions or comments to jennysvoice7@gmail.com.
Articles:
How to Help Someone who is Suicidal: Article from HelpGuide.org
Videos:
Mental Health Videos-Spectrum Lakeland has produced some short videos with help for facing mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you will find these helpful and share them with others.
Tips for Social Distancing
Ride the Tiger: A Guide through the Bipolar Brain: One-hour documentary that tells the stories of those with bipolar disorder.
Person-Centered Care: What can we do to prevent suicide? That is the topic that John Draper, PhD addresses in this six minute video, Person-Centered Care in Suicide, from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's website.
Zero Suicide: The Zero Suicide concept is fairly new. Watch Michael Hogan, PhD as describes the concept in a nutshell in this four minute video, Zero Suicide in Health Care.
“I Had a Black Dog, His Name was Depression.” A four minute simple, yet effective, animated video about depression, Please take a few minutes to watch it and share it with others.
Social Media Suicide Prevention Links
YouTube Safety Center - Suicide and Self Injury
Facebook Help Center - Suicide
Facebook Report Suicidal Content