Suicide Prevention is Everyone's Business: Community Suicide Prevention and Response Plan
“Suicide prevention is everyone’s business, and we must work together to develop effective strategies to address this crisis,” Weiser said. “Today’s announcement from the Collaborative is an important step toward saving the lives of some of our communities’ most vulnerable residents. Colorado is at our best when we are working together, and together we can reduce deaths by suicide in El Paso County and throughout our state.” – Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General
“‘Suicide Prevention is Everyone’s Business,’ is not just a tag line, it is a reality. I am grateful to have Attorney General Weiser, a leader in our state, take action today and I hope other leaders will take note and that this inspires others to take action. To see more employers offering suicide prevention training, schools having suicide prevention plans that follow best practices, and media partners engaging in safe messaging are a few things we hope to see in the near future.” – Cassandra Walton, Co-Chair, Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County
Suicide Prevention Microgrants are available to apply
Please review the guidelines and return your signed application with required attachments in a single combined PDF no later than 5:00pm MST Thursday, March 31. Effective project dates are Friday, April 15, 2022 – August 15, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Johnston, Project Manager of Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County at nicole.johnston@ppchp.org or 719-964-5154.
- Suicide Prevention is the Business of Businesses
- Suicide Prevention is the Business of Schools
We are looking for volunteers to share the Suicide Prevention and Response Toolkit in their school district. For a video that reviews the toolkit and talking points: https://youtu.be/evP_jcGF6GQ - Sample Script to provide overview of need for schools to adopt suicide prevention and response plans.
- Diversus Health School Suicide Prevention and Response Toolkit
- Suicide Prevention is the Business of our LGBTQIA2+ Community and Allies
Toolkit for youth and how the community can support - Suicide Prevention is the Business of Service Members, Veterans and Military Affiliated Families
Postvention Toolkit for a Military Suicide Loss - Suicide Prevention is Your Business
- Suicide Prevention is the Business of Media
Take the Pledge for responsible and ethical reporting of deaths by suicide
SAFE MESSAGING FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION MEDIA POLICY
The Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County (The Collaborative) is committed to partnering with local media organizations to ensure safe messaging for suicide prevention. The role of the Collaborative is to provide up to date information and training material regarding safe messaging to partnering media agencies/organizations. In turn, the role of the partnering media agencies/organizations is to ensure that personnel are trained and knowledgeable in these practices. This training and knowledge is to be reflected in news coverage related to deaths by suicide. Participating agencies/organizations will be acknowledged by the Collaborative website and social media as: “Community Partners in Safe Messaging for Suicide Prevention.”
Insert reporting on all deaths by suicide. Any suicide related story. To include domestic violence situations such as murder/suicide as well as mass shooting situations where perpetrator dies by suicide.
Please sign the Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County’s pledge to:
- Report on suicide as a public health issue.
- Use Appropriate Language. Certain phrases and words can further stigmatize suicide, spread myths, and undermine suicide prevention objectives such as “committed suicide” or referring to suicide as “successful,” “unsuccessful” or a “failed attempt.” Instead use, “died by suicide” or “completed” or “killed himself/herself/themself.”
- Emphasize Help and Hope. Stories of recovery through help-seeking and positive coping skills are powerful, especially when they come from people who have experienced suicide risk.
- Include Resources. Provide information on warning signs of suicide risk as well as hotline and treatment resources.
SAFE MESSAGING FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION MANAGEMENT PLAN
- Employee Onboarding: Employees are to be trained in and sign off on Safe Messaging for Suicide Prevention Policy at Hire.
- Annual Refresher: Employees are to be refreshed in Safe Messaging for Suicide Prevention best practices on a yearly basis with an annual sign off on the Safe Messaging for Suicide Prevention Policy.
- Ability to Audit: Training records for onboarding and refresher trainings should be available for audit for a representative of the Collaborative upon request. (accountability for safe messaging audit)
Coming Soon: Microgrants available for Suicide Prevention in El Paso County. Grant guidelines will be posted Friday, March 11, 2022
By implementing education & awareness efforts, community members, providers & other professionals will increase their knowledge, skills, beliefs & attitudes about suicide, including the prevention & reduction of attempts and deaths.
All community-based settings at the county level as indicated by Colorado Dashboard data, with a specific focus on areas where risk/burden is highest. Priority populations include youth, young adults, adults, LGBTQIA2+, Veterans, older adults, and workers in high-risk industries.
Evidence Based Suicide Prevention Trainings
Would you like a training to provide suicide prevention education for your organization? We can connect you with certified trainers in evidenced base suicide prevention trainings. Trainings include:
- Mental Health First Aide
- Question Persuade Refer (QPR)
- Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) which we have been providing our emergency responders
Please contact Nicole Johnston at Nicole.johnston@ppchp.org for information on how your organization can participate in these trainings.
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