Suicide Prevention Strategy
Revised Goals, Objectives, and Action Ideas 2011 – 2015
Executive Summary
Goals and Objectives
GOAL 1. Promote awareness that suicide is a preventable public health problem.
GOAL 2. Reduce the stigma associated with being a consumer of mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention services.
GOAL 3. Create collaborations and networks that support common goals in suicide prevention.
GOAL 4. Develop and implement evidence‐based suicide prevention, intervention and postvention programs.
GOAL 5. Develop and promote clinical and professional practices for delivery of effective treatment.
GOAL 6. Improve community access to mental health and substance abuse services.
GOAL 7. Reduce access to lethal means and methods of self‐harm.
GOAL 8. Support suicide prevention research and improve surveillance systems.
Original Florida Suicide Prevention Strategy
The Florida Suicide Prevention Strategy [PDF 2MB] calls for an integrated and long-term approach to lowering the state’s current suicide rate. It offers a comprehensive framework for actions that can help decrease the suicide rate in the state. The Florida Suicide Prevention Strategy is designed to add depth and momentum to the efforts consolidated and recharged in the first few years of this century. Its purpose is to serve as both a guide and an action agenda for preventing suicide in Florida, to have a lasting impact in bringing suicide to the forefront as a public issue, and over time to save thousands of lives.
Strategy Areas of Focus
Public Awareness and Education- Reduce stigma of mental illness
- Improve public knowledge
- Teach intervention skills
- Social marketing
- Screening individuals for mental illness and suicidal ideation
- Improve data collection
- Conduct psychological autopsies
- Addressing disparities in treatment coverage
- Ensuring quality care
- Education about medications
- Gatekeeper training to learn the warning signs of suicide
- First responders and crisis intervention training
- Educating physicians
- School intervention
- Bullying prevention
- Limiting access to lethal means
- Responsible media coverage
- Assisting survivors (those who have lost a loved one to suicide)
Only by setting policies and following through with programs in all of the areas and all of the ways outlined in the Strategy can we hope to address the complexity of the challenge. As new tools become available (e.g., research data, treatment modalities, survey instruments pharmacological breakthroughs, funding opportunites and so forth) this Strategy will seek to integrate them into its plan of action. We are resolved to reach our goals, however, and submit this Strategy as a means to that end.
Brochure
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| 2011-2015 Brochure | 2005-2010 Brochure |
The 2011-2015 brochure [PDF 790KB] highlights the fact that Florida has a state plan to reduce suicide, and it includes key elements such as an introduction, goals, area of focus, and the recommended action items provided by the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council to implement the Strategy. Citizens are encouraged to distribute this brochure to people inside and outside of the prevention field who need to be made more aware. Because of the brochure's aesthetically appealing nature, it could easily be placed on counters at doctors' offices, pharmacy counters, left with hairstylists, bartenders, or other professions not typically associated with suicide prevention. Above is a PDF version, but because of the unusual folding pattern, it can be confusing to view electronically. For printed versions, please contact Stephen Roggenbaum at roggenba@fmhi.usf.edu.
Community Needs Assessment
Developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this thorough needs assessment can be adapted to fit your community. Below you will find the assessment guide which explains the assessment tool, followed by the data collection form and youth survey.
- Community Needs Assessment Guide [PDF 99KB]
- Data Collection Form [PDF 383KB]
- Youth Survey Form [PDF 27KB]
