Suicide Prevention

Suicide is a leading cause of death in Utah. Each year we lose too many family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers to suicide. 97% of Utahns know someone who has had thoughts of suicide, has attempted or died by suicide. We know that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover from suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Resources

There are many resources to support Utahns struggling with thoughts of suicide.

Resources Page

Together we can make a difference to prevent suicide by providing caring, culturally appropriate, and evidenced-based interventions. We can promote acceptance, respect, healing and recovery. Suicide is a complex problem, with no single solution. Our health and behavioral health systems, schools, workplaces, and communities need to collectively work together to implement best practices for suicide prevention.

Comprehensive suicide prevention

Suicide is a complex public health problem. It takes all Utahns, governments, businesses, agencies and organizations working together to save lives. It must be addressed broadly through prevention, intervention and postvention.

The direct efforts to prevent a person from attempting suicide. How do we identify individuals who are experiencing higher levels of stress, or who may be in the early stages of a mental health or substance abuse problem? Interventions include crisis services like 988 (https://988.utah.gov/) and Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (https://988.utah.gov/someone-to-help-you/). This may include treatment, therapy, medication, and clinical support.

Training

Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention trainings are available. You can learn more to support your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors.

Click to access Suicide Prevention 101, webinars, and more

See the calendar for training provided by SUMH and our partners.

Training calendar

Clinical and Professional Training:

These trainings are appropriate for mental health clinicians and other mental health professionals.

Learn why reducing access to lethal means of self-harm saves lives and practical skills on when and how to ask suicidal clients about their access to lethal means and their families to reduce their access. Free online self-paced course available from Intermountain Healthcare - https://intermountainhealthcare.org/ihcu/public/bh/CounselingOnAccessToLethalMeansCALM-ToPreventSuicide/Primary/story.html

General Suicide Prevention Training:

These trainings are appropriate for general audiences (community members, faith leaders, paraprofessionals, business leaders, etc.)

SUMH suicide prevention programs

Utah Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) 2022-2026: This four-year project is a collaboration between the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health and the Utah State Board of Education to focus on three school districts in Utah (North Sanpete, San Juan, and Tooele County). The goal is to provide positive behavioral health support for school-aged youth. Funded by SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/school-health/project-aware
Utah Rural Hope for Youth Project (URHYP) 2024-2029: This five-year project provides comprehensive suicide prevention strategies for youth up to 24 years and their families in rural communities. SUMH is partnering with Four Corners Behavioral Health and Central Utah Counseling Center to provide focused implementation of these strategies. Funded by SAMHSA through the Cooperative Agreement for the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior/prevention-initiatives
Utah Strategy for Suicide Prevention (USSP) 2023-2026: This three-year project implements comprehensive suicide prevention strategies for older adults living in rural Utah including American Indian/Alaskan Natives. Funded by SAMHSA through the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) grant. https://www.hhs.gov/programs/prevention-and-wellness/mental-health-substance-use-disorder/national-strategy-suicide-prevention/index.html

Zero Suicide: In 2021, the Utah State Legislature funded a Zero Suicide technical assistance program. Zero Suicide is a model that transforms system-wide suicide prevention and care to save lives. The Zero Suicide Framework is a roadmap for health care organizations to transform their system to address needs and gaps in services to prevent suicides among their patients and staff. For more information about the Zero Suicide Framework, visit: https://sumh.utah.gov/services/treatment/zero-suicide-framework/
Clean up program: To assist Utahns who have experienced a loss due to suicide. The program may reimburse you for the professional disaster cleanup and biohazard services needed after losing someone close to suicide. Complete the application (https://sumh.utah.gov/online-application-for-reimbursement/ or email [email protected].
Comprehensive Community Suicide Prevention Project: In 2022, the Utah State Legislature passed “H.B. 236 Behavioral Health Amendments,” which funded the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (OSUMH) for community-based suicide prevention awards. The Comprehensive Community Suicide Prevention Project provides an opportunity for local mental health authorities and health departments to develop and implement comprehensive suicide prevention planning.