2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action. A Report of the U.S. Surgeon General and of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Author: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (DHHS/PHS)
Date: 2012-09-00
Type: Reports - Descriptive
Subjects: Prevention,Public Health,Suicide,Health Services,Mental Health Programs,At Risk Persons,Goal Orientation,History,Federal Programs,Empowerment,Community Programs,Clinics,Evaluation,Self Destructive Behavior,Racial Differences,Child Welfare,Physical Health,Mental Disorders,Homosexuality,Military Personnel,Gender Differences,Age Differences,American Indians,Alaska Natives

Suicide is a serious public health problem that causes immeasurable pain, suffering, and loss to individuals, families, and communities nationwide. Many people may be surprised to learn that suicide was one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States in 2009. And death is only the tip of the iceberg. For every person who dies by suicide, more than 30 others attempt suicide. Every suicide attempt and death affects countless other individuals. Family members, friends, coworkers, and others in the community all suffer the long-lasting consequences of suicidal behaviors. Suicide places a heavy burden on the nation in terms of the emotional suffering that families and communities experience as well as the economic costs associated with medical care and lost productivity. And yet suicidal behaviors often continue to be met with silence and shame. These attitudes can be formidable barriers to providing care and support to individuals in crisis and to those who have lost a loved one to suicide. More than a decade has passed since Surgeon General David Satcher broke the silence surrounding suicide in the United States by issuing "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide." Published in 1999, this landmark document introduced a blueprint for suicide prevention and guided the development of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy). Released in 2001, the National Strategy set forth an ambitious national agenda for suicide prevention consisting of 11 goals and 68 objectives. What has changed since the National Strategy was released in 2001? Where have efforts been successful, and where is more work needed? What new findings from scientific research can help enhance suicide prevention efforts and improve the care provided to those who have been affected by suicide? What lessons learned can help guide suicide prevention efforts in the years to come? To assess progress made to date and identify remaining challenges, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) commissioned the report "Charting the Future of Suicide Prevention." Published in 2010, the report identified substantial achievements in suicide prevention in the years following the release of the National Strategy. Informed by this assessment, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance), a public-private partnership focused on advancing the National Strategy, formed an expert task force to revise and update the National Strategy. This document is the product of that task force's deliberations and also reflects substantial input from individuals and organizations nationwide with an interest in suicide prevention. The revised National Strategy is a call to action that is intended to guide suicide prevention actions in the United States over the next decade. Appended are: (1) National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Goals and Objectives for Action Summary List; (2) Crosswalk of Goals and Objectives from 2001 to 2012; (3) Brief History of Suicide Prevention in the United States; (4) Groups With Increased Suicide Risk; (5) General Suicide Prevention Resources; (6) Glossary; and (7) Federal Working Group Agency Descriptions. [This paper is a report of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.]