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This Web site is a component of the SAMHSA Health Information Network. |
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National Strategy for Suicide Prevention:
Goals and Objectives for Action
APPENDIX A
NSSP Goals and Objectives for Action: Summary List
Section 1: Awareness
- Promote awareness that suicide is a public health problem that
is preventable
- Develop broad-based support for suicide prevention
- Develop and implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated
with being a consumer of mental health, substance abuse
and suicide prevention services
Section 2: Intervention
- Develop and implement suicide prevention programs
- Promote efforts to reduce access to lethal means and methods
of self-harm
- Implement training for recognition of at-risk behavior and delivery
of effective treatment
- Develop and promote effective clinical and professional practices
- Increase access to and community linkages with mental health
and substance abuse services
- Improve reporting and portrayals of suicidal behavior, mental illness,
and substance abuse in the entertainment and news media
Section 3: Methodology
- Promote and support research on suicide and suicide prevention
- Improve and expand surveillance systems
Section 1: Awareness
| 1. Promote Awareness that Suicide is a Public Health Problem that is Preventable |
| Objective 1.1: |
By 2005, increase the number of States in which public
information campaigns designed to increase public
knowledge of suicide prevention reach at least 50 percent
of the State's population.
|
| Objective 1.2: |
By 2005, establish regular national congresses on
suicide prevention designed to foster collaboration with
stakeholders on prevention strategies across disciplines
and with the public.
|
| Objective 1.3: |
By 2005, convene national forums to focus on issues
likely to strongly influence the effectiveness of suicide
prevention messages.
|
| Objective 1.4: |
By 2005, increase the number of both public and private
institutions active in suicide prevention that are
involved in collaborative, complementary dissemination
of information on the World Wide Web.
|
| 2. Develop Broad-Based Support for Suicide Prevention |
| Objective 2.1: |
By 2001, expand the Federal Steering Group to appropriate
Federal agencies to improve Federal coordination
on suicide prevention, to help implement the
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, and to
coordinate future revisions of the National Strategy
|
| Objective 2.2: |
By 2002, establish a public/private partnership(s)
(e.g., a national coordinating body) with the purpose of
advancing and coordinating the implementation of the
National Strategy.
|
| Objective 2.3: |
By 2005, increase the number of national professional,
voluntary, and other groups that integrate suicide prevention
activities into their ongoing programs and activities.
|
| Objective 2.4: |
By 2005, increase the number of nationally organized
faith communities adopting institutional policies promoting
suicide prevention.
|
| 3. Develop and Implement Strategies to Reduce the Stigma Associated with Being a Consumer of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Services. |
| Objective 3.1: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of the public that
views mental and physical health as equal and inseparable
components of overall health.
|
| Objective 3.2: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of the public that
views mental disorders as real illnesses that respond
to specific treatments.
|
| Objective 3.3: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of the public that
views consumers of mental health, substance abuse,
and suicide prevention services as pursuing fundamental
care and treatment for overall health.
|
| Objective 3.4: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of those suicidal
persons with underlying mental disorders who receive
appropriate mental health treatment.
|
Section 2: Intervention
| 4. Develop and Implement Community-Based Suicide Prevention Programs |
| Objective 4.1: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of States with
comprehensive suicide prevention plans that a) coordinate
across government agencies, b) involve the private sector,
and c) support plan development, implementation,
and evaluation in its communities.
|
| Objective 4.2: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of school districts
and private school associations with evidence-based
programs designed to address serious childhood and
adolescent distress and prevent suicide.
|
| Objective 4.3: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of colleges and
universities with evidence-based programs designed to
address serious young adult distress and prevent suicide.
|
| Objective 4.4: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of employers that
ensure the availability of evidence-based prevention
strategies for suicide.
|
| Objective 4.5: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of correctional
institutions, jails and detention centers housing either
adult or juvenile offenders, with evidence-based suicide
prevention programs.
|
| Objective 4.6: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of State Aging
Networks that have evidence-based suicide prevention
programs designed to identify and refer for treatment
of elderly people at risk for suicidal behavior.
|
| Objective 4.7: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of family, youth and
community service providers and organizations with
evidence-based suicide prevention programs.
|
| Objective 4.8: |
By 2005, develop one or more training and technical
resource centers to build capacity for States and communities
to implement and evaluate suicide prevention
programs.
|
| 5. Promote Efforts to Reduce Access to Lethal Means and Methods of Self-Harm |
| Objective 5.1: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of primary care
clinicians, other health care providers, and health and safety
officials who routinely assess the presence of lethal
means (including firearms, drugs, and poisons) in the
home and educate about actions to reduce associated
risks.
|
| Objective 5.2: |
By 2005, expose a proportion of households to public
information campaign(s) designed to reduce the accessibility
of lethal means, including firearms, in the home.
|
| Objective 5.3: |
By 2005, develop and implement improved firearm safety
design using technology where appropriate.
|
| Objective 5.4: |
By 2005, develop guidelines for safer dispensing of
medications for individuals at heightened risk of suicide.
|
| Objective 5.5: |
By 2005, improve automobile design to impede carbon
monoxide-mediated suicide.
|
| Objective 5.5: |
By 2005, improve automobile design to impede carbon
monoxide-mediated suicide.
|
| Objective 5.6: |
By 2005, institute incentives for the discovery of new
technologies to prevent suicide.
|
| 6. Implement Training for Recognition of At-Risk Behavior and Delivery of Effective Treatment |
| Objective 6.1: |
By 2005, define minimum course objectives for providers
of nursing care in assessment and management of suicide
risk, and identification and promotion of protective
factors. Incorporate this material into curricula for nursing
care providers at all professional levels.
|
| Objective 6.2: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of physician assistant
educational programs and medical residency programs
that include training in the assessment and management
of suicide risk and identification and promotion of
protective factors.
|
| Objective 6.3: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of clinical social
work, counseling, and psychology graduate programs that
include training in the assessment and management of
suicide risk, and the identification and promotion of protective
factors.
|
| Objective 6.4: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of clergy who have
received training in identification of and response to suicide
risk and behaviors and the differentiation of mental
disorders and faith crises.
|
| Objective 6.5: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of educational faculty
and staff who have received training on identifying and
responding to children and adolescents at risk for suicide.
|
| Objective 6.6: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of correctional workers
who have received training on identifying and respond-ing
to persons at risk for suicide.
|
| Objective 6.7: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of divorce and family
law and criminal defense attorneys who have received
training in identifying and responding to persons at risk
for suicide.
|
| Objective 6.8: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of counties (or comparable jurisdictions such as cities or tribes) in which education
programs are available to family members and
others in close relationships with those at risk for suicide.
|
| Objective 6.9: |
By 2005, increase the number of recertification or
licensing programs in relevant professions that require or promote
competencies in depression assessment and management
and suicide prevention.
|
| 7. Develop and Promote Effective Clinical and Professional
Practices |
| Objective 7.1: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of patients treated
for self-destructive behavior in hospital emergency
departments that pursue the proposed mental health
follow-up plan.
|
| Objective 7.2: |
By 2005, develop guidelines for assessment of suicidal
risk among persons receiving care in primary health
care settings, emergency departments, and specialty
mental health and substance abuse treatment centers.
Implement these guidelines in a proportion of these
settings.
|
| Objective 7.3: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of specialty mental
health and substance abuse treatment centers that
have policies, procedures, and evaluation programs
designed to assess suicide risk and intervene to reduce
suicidal behaviors among their patients.
|
| Objective 7.4: |
By 2005, develop guidelines for aftercare treatment
programs for individuals exhibiting suicidal behavior
(including those discharged from inpatient facilities).
Implement these guidelines in a proportion of these settings.
|
| Objective 7.5: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of those who provide
key services to suicide survivors (e.g., emergency medical
technicians, firefighters, law enforcement officers, funeral
directors, clergy) who have received training that
addresses their own exposure to suicide and the unique
needs of suicide survivors.
|
| Objective 7.6: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of patients with mood
disorders who complete a course of treatment or continue
maintenance treatment as recommended.
|
| Objective 7.7: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of hospital emergency
departments that routinely provide immediate post-trauma
psychological support and mental health education
for all victims of sexual assault and/or physical
abuse.
|
| Objective 7.8: |
By 2005, develop guidelines for providing education to
family members and significant others of persons receiving
care for the treatment of mental health and substance
abuse disorders with risk of suicide. Implement
the guidelines in facilities (including general and mental
hospitals, mental health clinics, and substance abuse
treatment centers).
|
| Objective 7.9: |
By 2005, incorporate screening for depression, substance
abuse and suicide risk as a minimum standard of
care for assessment in primary care settings, hospice,
and skilled nursing facilities for all Federally-supported
healthcare programs (e.g., Medicaid, CHAMPUS/TRICARE,
CHIP, Medicare).
|
| Objective 7.10: |
By 2005, include screening for depression, substance
abuse and suicide risk as measurable performance
items in the Health Plan Employer Data and
Information Set (HEDIS).
|
| 8. Increase Access to and Community Linkages with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services |
| Objective 8.1: |
By 2005, increase the number of States that require
health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance
abuse services on par with coverage for physical
health.
|
| Objective 8.2: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of counties (or
comparable jurisdictions) with health and/or social services
outreach programs for at-risk populations that incorporate
mental health services and suicide prevention.
|
| Objective 8.3: |
By 2005, define guidelines for mental health (including
substance abuse) screening and referral of students in
schools and colleges. Implement those guidelines in a
proportion of school districts and colleges.
|
| Objective 8.4: |
By 2005, develop guidelines for schools on appropriate
linkages with mental health and substance abuse
treatment services and implement those guidelines in
a proportion of school districts.
|
| Objective 8.5: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of school districts in
which school-based clinics incorporate mental health
and substance abuse assessment and management
into their scope of activities.
|
| Objective 8.6: |
By 2005, for adult and juvenile incarcerated
populations, define national guidelines for mental health
screening, assessment and treatment of suicidal individuals.
Implement the guidelines in correctional institutions,
jails and detention centers.
|
| Objective 8.7: |
By 2005, define national guidelines for effective
comprehensive support programs for suicide survivors.
Increase the proportion of counties (or comparable
jurisdictions) in which the guidelines are implemented.
|
| Objective 8.8: |
By 2005, develop quality care/utilization management
guidelines for effective response to suicidal risk or
behavior and implement these guidelines in managed
care and health insurance plans.
|
| 9. Improve Reporting and Portrayals of Suicidal Behavior, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse in the Entertainment and News Media |
| Objective 9.1: |
By 2005, establish an association of public and private
organizations for the purpose of promoting the accurate
and responsible representation of suicidal behaviors, mental
illness and related issues on television and in movies.
|
| Objective 9.2: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of television programs
and movies that observe promoting accurate and responsible
depiction of suicidal behavior, mental illness and related
issues.
|
| Objective 9.3: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of news reports
on suicide that observe consensus reporting
recommendations.
|
| Objective 9.4: |
By 2005, increase the number of journalism schools that
include in their curricula guidance on the portrayal and
reporting of mental illness, suicide and suicidal behaviors.
|
Section 3: Methodology
| 10. Promote and Support Research on Suicide and Suicide Prevention |
| Objective 10.1: |
By 2002, develop a national suicide research agenda
with input from survivors, practitioners, researchers,
and advocates.
|
| Objective 10.2: |
By 2005, increase funding (public and private) for
suicide prevention research, for research on translating
scientific knowledge into practice, and for training of
researchers in suicidology.
|
| Objective 10.3: |
By 2005, establish and maintain a registry of prevention
activities with demonstrated effectiveness for
suicide or suicidal behaviors.
|
| Objective 10.4: |
By 2005, perform scientific evaluation studies of new
or existing suicide prevention interventions.
|
| 11. Improve and Expand Surveillance Systems |
| Objective 11.1: |
By 2005, develop and refine standardized protocols
for death scene investigations and implement these
protocols in counties (or comparable jurisdictions).
|
| Objective 11.2: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of jurisdictions that
regularly collect and provide information for follow-back
studies on suicides.
|
| Objective 11.3: |
By 2005, increase the proportion of hospitals (including
emergency departments) that collect uniform and
reliable data on suicidal behavior by coding external
cause of injuries, utilizing the categories included in
the International Classification of Diseases.
|
| Objective 11.4: |
By 2005, implement a national violent death reporting
system that includes suicides and collects information
not currently available from death certificates.
|
| Objective 11.5: |
By 2005, increase the number of States that produce
annual reports on suicide and suicide attempts, integrating
data from multiple State data management
systems.
|
| Objective 11.6: |
By 2005, increase the number of nationally
representative surveys that include questions on suicidal
behavior.
|
| Objective 11.7: |
By 2005, implement pilot projects in several States
that link and analyze information related to self-destructive
behavior derived from separate data systems,
including for example law enforcement, emergency
medical services, and hospitals.
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