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About The Coalition

Who is the MCSP?

The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention is a broad based inclusive alliance of suicide prevention advocates, including public and private agency representatives, policy makers, suicide survivors, mental health and public health consumers and providers and concerned citizens committed to working together to reduce the incidence of self-harm and suicide in the Commonwealth.

See our membership list

MCSP Mission
 The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention mission is to support and develop effective suicide prevention initiatives by providing leadership and advocacy, promoting collaborations among organizations, developing and recommending policy and promoting research and development.

History
The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention was convened in 1999. From its inception, the Coalition has been a public private partnership, involving government agencies including the Department of Public Health and Department of Mental Health working in partnership with community based agencies and interested individuals. In the spring of 2003, the Suicide Prevention Working Group moved to a coalition model

MCSP Accomplishments

  • In 2002, the Coalition drafted the state's first Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention. In 2007 and 2008, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in partnership with the MCSP, began planning for a new Strategic Plan. The new Strategic Plan was issued in September 2009.
  • Organized State House events annually, since 1999, to raise awareness and educate legislators with over 1,200 advocates and legislators participating over the past 10 years.
  • Drafted legislative budget recommendations to fund statewide suicide prevention initiatives.
  • Co-sponsored the annual statewide Department of Public Health 2 day Suicide Prevention Conference with over 800 participants attending in both 2007 and 2008.
  • Coalition members testified at the Boston Hearing on the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention organized by the Surgeon General's Office and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • In 2008, as a result of the leadership of our champions in the legislature and MCSP advocates, $3.75 million was allocated by the legislature for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program. Critical resources are now invested in veterans' suicide prevention, services for elders, education and training opportunities and community and regionally based initiatives across the state.
  • In 2009, the legislature increased its investment in the prevention of self-violence to $4.75 million, enabling the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to enhance and expand lifesaving suicide prevention initiatives.
Our Plan

Overall Goals

  1. Improve and expand the Massachusetts suicide surveillance system.
  2. Promote awareness that suicide is a preventable public health problem.
  3. Develop broad-based support for suicide prevention.
  4. Develop and implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated with suicide.
  5. Develop and implement community-based suicide prevention services.
  6. Reduce access to lethal means and methods of self-harm.
  7. Implement professional training programs in recognizing and treating suicidal behavior for those who are in regular contact with persons at risk.
  8. Develop and promote effective clinical practices to reduce suicide morbidity and mortality.
  9. Improve access to and community linkages with mental health and substance abuse services.
  10. Improve reporting and portrayals of suicidal behavior, mental illness, and substance abuse in the entertainment and news media.
  11. Promote and support research and evaluation of suicide and suicide prevention programs.
(c) Copyright 2005 by the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention