Summary of National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention was published in May 2001 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with leadership from the Surgeon General. It is designed to be a catalyst for social change with the power to transform attitudes, policies, and services. Representing the combined work of advocates, clinicians, researchers and survivors, the National Strategy lays out a framework for action and guides development of an array of services and programs yet to be set in motion. It strives to promote and provide direction to efforts to modify the social infrastructure in ways that will affect the most basic attitudes about suicide and its prevention, and that will also change judicial, educational, and health care systems.

Goals and Objectives for Action:

• Goal 1: Promote awareness that suicide is a public health problem that is preventable
• Goal 2: Develop broad-based support for suicide prevention
• Goal 3: Develop and implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated with being a consumer of mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention services
• Goal 4: Develop and implement suicide prevention programs
• Goal 5: Promote efforts to reduce access to lethal means and methods of self-harm
• Goal 6: Implement training for recognition of at-risk behavior and delivery of effective treatment
• Goal 7: Develop and promote effective clinical and professional practices
• Goal 8: Improve access to and community linkages with mental health and substance abuse services
• Goal 9: Improve reporting and portrayals of suicidal behavior, mental illness, and substance abuse in the entertainment and news media
• Goal 10: Promote and support research on suicide and suicide prevention
• Goal 11: Improve and expand surveillance systems

Source: The complete “National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, A Report from the Surgeon General”. www.mentalhealth.org/publications

U.S. Surgeon General’s Office
www.surgeongeneral.gov
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 202-690-6467
Fax: 301-443-3574

Next Chapter