Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program for States

The Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program for States is a cooperative agreement intended to support the implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention in the United States. The program aims to reduce suicide risk factors and increase protective factors among selected Focus Prevention Areas (FPAs). Recipients will use timely and relevant data to identify FPAs, understand contributors to suicide and suicidal behavior, monitor emerging trends, and guide prevention planning and response. They will also assess existing suicide prevention programs and gaps in their jurisdiction, strengthen and coordinate multi-sector partnerships, select and implement complementary prevention strategies and approaches, and communicate programmatic and surveillance findings to partners and other key audiences. Key outcomes include increased partner engagement, increased use of surveillance data for decision-making, improved coordination of comprehensive suicide prevention within the jurisdiction, reduced suicide risk factors, and increased protective factors among selected FPAs. Some of the key responsibilities and requirements for recipients include: • Submitting a Letter of Commitment from state or territorial health department leadership • Submitting a Letter of Support from the jurisdiction's suicide-related morbidity and mortality surveillance data system manager • Submitting a Letter of Support from the jurisdiction's suicide-related syndromic surveillance data system manager • Submitting Letters of Support from partner organizations and multi-sector partners • Developing a preliminary program organizational chart showing required staffing • Evaluating their approach with a focus on continuous quality improvement, sustainability, and measurable outcomes