July 2020
SPRC’s Recommendations for State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure (Infrastructure Recommendations) lays out six essential infrastructure elements for advancing state suicide prevention efforts. Read on for updates related to these recommendations, including a new implementation tool, examples of the Guide essential element, and more!  
Success Spotlight
This winter, Leah Rolando testified to the Wisconsin Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention using the Infrastructure Recommendations to support her points. She reports:

“When I testified, I showed slides with the Infrastructure Recommendations summary on them and they really helped to underscore the points I made. As a result of testimony from multiple stakeholders across the state, the task force did come out with proposals that aligned with some of the Infrastructure Recommendations. For example, AB 525/SB 503 would require the implementation of a suicide prevention program at the Department of Health Services , which would coordinate activities with other state agencies. The Infrastructure Recommendations gave us something with gravitas to point to when making the case for improving suicide prevention in Wisconsin.”
State Infrastructure Tools
State suicide prevention plans have emerged as a key tool in suicide prevention efforts. SPRC recently released State Suicide Prevention Plans and Leadership Guidance to help state leaders develop a strong plan using the key elements and characteristics underpinning effective state plans.

This document should be used in conjunction with other SPRC resources, including the Infrastructure Recommendations and Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention , which presents a combination of strategies to address suicide prevention across the lifespan. To see more implementation resources, visit our State Infrastructure Tools .
Essential Elements in Action: Guide
Wondering how others are putting the Guide essential element into practice? Check ou t how three states plan, provide, and evaluate guidance for state, county, and local efforts :

  • Ohio conducts surveys with community-based partners across the state to track coalition growth and suicide prevention strategy implementation.

  • Missouri guides partners by hosting an annual suicide prevention conference that features evidence-based training, information for health professionals, and advice from speakers with lived experience.

  • Texas advances regional suicide prevention efforts in two main ways: through their statewide suicide prevention coalition’s guidance and support for regional coalitions, and by contracting prevention services through community mental health centers, which coordinate with local coalitions.
 
See more details by clicking on and expanding the first recommendation in the Guide essential element .
Did You Know...?
Each infrastructure recommendation has a longer description and examples. Watch the video below to see how you can take a deeper dive into the second recommendation in the Guide essential element, “Identify and allocate resources needed to guide state, county, and local efforts.”

To understand the nuances of this recommendation, expand the second recommendation on the Guide essential element page . The in-depth description highlights a variety of resources that most consultation and training efforts need, such as trainers’ time and webinar platforms. The description also provides creative suggestions for getting needed resources, such as pointing out links between suicide prevention and related, well-funded issues. Finally, you can explore real-world examples from Indiana, California, and South Carolina.
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The Suicide Prevention Resource Center at EDC is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), under Grant No. 5U79SM062297. The views, opinions, and content expressed in this product do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, or HHS.