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Suicide claims the lives of over 1,300 Pennsylvanians each year;
that is an average of 3.5 lives each day. It is estimated that each
suicide directly affects six people. Therefore, over 7,800 Pennsylvanians
become survivors of suicide each year.
Former US Surgeon General David Satcher presented the Call
to Action to Prevent Suicide in 1999 in which he stated that
the problems of suicide and suicide prevention are critical public
health priorities for our nation. The National Strategy for Suicide
Prevention debuted in 2001.
The Advisory committee of the Office of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services (OMHSAS) prioritized a state suicide prevention plan
as one of the major goals for OMHSAS. A work group was formed and
began to meet in July 2005. This prevention plan is a collaborative
effort between those dedicated individuals from both the public
and private sectors of our state. The work group is striving to
raise awareness about suicide and its prevention so that fewer Pennsylvanians
experience the pain and grief resulting from the suicide death of
a loved one.
Pennsylvania Youth
Suicide Prevention Plan
Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Five
Year Action Plan (2007 - 2012)
Pennsylvania Adult
Suicide Prevention Plan
Pennsylvania Older
Adult Suicide Prevention Plan
Suicide Prevention Updates
The Adult/Older Adult Suicide Prevention Steering Committee members held a one-day Suicide Prevention Summit to facilitate our progress to the next level. Our goal was to collaborate on a timeline and develop goals, expectations, and outcomes as we set forth our mission to provide education and collaborate with the community to prevent suicide, reduce the stigma associated with suicide, and support those touched by suicide.
Recent Accomplishments:
We held four QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper training) to aging and parole officer staff and management. A QPR Train-the-Trainer session was also conducted for 15 participants. ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) was offered to 32 participants and SPSP trainings were offered in the west.
What’s Ahead…
- An advocacy event will be held at the Capitol in September. Please stay tuned for the finalized date. We hope to see you there. There will be displays in the Rotunda from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and speakers. An “Empty Shoe Memorial” will represent loved ones lost to suicide and picture quilts will also be displayed.
- A one year taskforce has been recommended by members to determine governance structure (501(c)(3) vs. fiduciary relationship.
- The statewide annual conference will be held every other year, to resume in September 2012. During the alternate year, a SP tract will be incorporated into the Crisis Conference.
Much progress is being made to further develop the Coalition and we are pleased to be hosted on the Network of Care web site social group. Please visit us there.
County Suicide Prevention Task force Information
County Task Forces Contact Sheet
Counties with Task Forces
Youth Suicide Prevention Public Service Campaign Launched
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, along with the Ad Council and the Inspire USA Foundation, launched a new Teen Suicide Prevention national public service campaign. The public service announcement (PSA) campaign—We Can Help Us —empowers teens by reminding them that there are ways to get through whatever problems they face. The campaign includes TV, radio and print advertising, and mall and in-school posters and viral videos. The reachout.com web site features stories from teens, as well as tips to help cops with tough issues and links to resources, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for teens who need immediate help.
Pennsylvania’s Third Annual Suicide Prevention Conference
The theme of the Third Annual Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Conference, held September 15-16, 2009 in State College, was "Creating Healthy Communities." Approximately 200 people attended the conference which featured presentations addressing suicide prevention issues for youth, adults and older adults. Highlights of the conference included a panel of survivors of suicide sharing in a general session, a meeting focusing on the work of several county suicide prevention task forces, and a webinar on "Pharmacological Management of Adolescent Depression in Primary Care," presented by Dr. David Brent, child psychiatrist from the STAR-Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh. Additional selected handouts from the conference are available.
Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative Launches New Web Site
OMHSAS is pleased to announce the launch of the new web site of the Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative. The site is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Academy of Pediatrics’ Child Death Review Team. When the state developed a youth suicide prevention plan in 2001, it adopted the goals of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention as its own, the first of which is to "promote awareness that youth suicide is a public health problem that is preventable." This web site is a major step forward in achieving that goal.
The web site provides news and information about the ongoing work of the Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative, as well as resources for youth and young adults, family members, survivors, and professionals. Still in development is a section on local and county initiatives, highlighting the efforts of county suicide prevention task forces and other community organizations and linking people to resources within their local communities.
The web site address is www.payspi.org. Add it to your favorites, check it periodically, and let us know (through the "Contact Us" section) how we can make the site more useful in promoting youth suicide prevention awareness and providing resources.
Fact Sheets
Resources
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