National Suicide Prevention Initiatives: Federal and State Partnerships

1
National Suicide Prevention Initiatives
Federal and State Partnerships

• Jerry Reed
• Executive Director
• December 5, 2004

2
Topics to be covered

• A bit about SPAN USA?
• Overview of suicide in America
• How did the current suicide prevention movement
  begin?
• Who has a role in suicide prevention on the
  national level?
• What has been accomplished?
• What needs to be done?

3
SPAN USA

• Founded in 1996 by Jerry Elsie Weyrauch
• Survivor focus put a face to suicide
• Turn grief to action
• Raise awareness about the problem
• Exercise a first amendment right
• Call for action

• 6 Affiliates/Organizers in thirty-eight states
• Develop, implement and evaluate a strategy
• Build a sustainable grassroots
• Federal/National/Local
• Moved to DC in July 2003
• Membership organization
• Emphasis on political will

4
336,851 Suicide Deaths (1992-2002)

• 2002 31,655
• 2001 30,622
• 2000 29,350
• 1999 29,199
• 1998 30,575
• 1997 30,535
• 1996 30,903
• 1995 31,284
• 1994 31,142
• 1993 31,102
• 1992 30,484

5
Key Facts

• 87 suicides per day
• Rate of 11.0 per 100,000
• 1 death every 17 minutes
• 31,655 deaths in 2002
• 25,409 males
• 6,246 females
• 28,731 white
• 2,924 nonwhites
• 5,548 elderly
• 4,010 youth

• 11th ranking cause of death
• 3rd leading cause of death for 10-24
• More males than females
• More to suicide than homicide
• 795,000 attempts
• Rates highest in mountain west, lowest in
  northeast

6
Who has a role at the national level?

• Private Sector
• National Associations
• Non-profits
• Trade Groups
• Legislative Branch
• House
• Senate
• Executive Branch
• White House

• HHS
• SAMHSA
• CDC
• HRSA
• NIH
• IHS
• DVA
• DoD
• DOE
• DOL
• DOJ

7
The History

• Aging Committee hearings
• Authorizing Appropriating Committee hearings
• S.Res. 84 H.Res. 212
• Called for a National Strategy
• Surgeon General took the lead

• Reno Conference
• Call to Action
• National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
• Institute of Medicine Report
• New Freedom Commission Report
• Continued legislative branch Support

8
The Accomplishments

• National and State Resolutions
• NSSP
• Hotline Grant
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
• Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act

• 28 states with a state suicide prevention
  strategy
• Media Guidelines
• Research (40 million portfolio at NIH)
• State funding

9
What can Commissioners Do?

• Chair/Participate in State Planning Efforts
• Apply for and oversee GLSMA funding
• Set a place for all the players at the table
• Testify and advocate for additional funds
• Engage the Governors
• Set Performance Goals for suicide and suicidal
  behavior
• Keep suicide prevention on the radar screen

10
Next Steps

• Transformation Activities that include suicide
  prevention
• Continued advocacy
• Pass Mental Health Parity
• 27M in 2006 for GLSMA
• http//capwiz.com/spanusa/home/
• Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• State plan development, implementation and
  evaluation

11
Contact Information

• Jerry Reed
• Executive Director
• SPAN USA
• 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW
• Suite 1200
• Washington, DC 20005
• [phone]
• jreed_at_spanusa.org
• www.spanusa.org