Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition

Our Mission

  • Raise awareness that suicide is a preventable public health problem

  • Enable the behavioral and social changes necessary to reduce suicidal ideation and attempts

Our History

The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition began efforts in 2004 and enlisted multiple state, private and nonprofit organizations to participate in the effort. To date, we now have over 55 members involved from at least 30 organizations.

Coalition Members

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Bayhealth - Behavioral Health Consortium - Charlie Health - Child Death Review Commission - Christiana Care - ContactLifeline - Crisis Intervention Services - Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence - DE Department of Veterans Affairs - DE National Guard - DHSS - DJ’s Alliance - DOC - Dover Air Force Base - DPH - DPBHS - DSAMH - DSCYF - MHA - NAMI - Parker Consulting - Rockford Center - Siegel JCC - Sisters Supporting Sisters Foundation - SL24 Foundation - Sun Behavioral Health - Trauma Matters Delaware - UMttr - University of Delaware - Sculpt Your Life’s Tai Chi for Veterans - Wilmington VAMC

Coalition Meetings

The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition meetings are typically held on the third Monday of the month from 10am to 11am ET and are open to everyone. Please email Jenn Ford at jford@mhainde.org so that we know to expect you.

Coalition Recordings

Recordings of the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition meetings are available to the public. For access to older meetings, please email Sydney Elliott at selliott@mhainde.org.

Delaware Suicide Prevention Plan

The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition created a 5 Year Strategy for suicide prevention, which was extended to 2023, to reflect the United States National Suicide Prevention Plan. Originally approved by Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition on Monday, June 17, 2013, the plan’s goals are summarized below:

    • Goal 1: Integrate and coordinate suicide prevention activities across multiple sectors and settings

    • Goal 2: Implement research-informed communication efforts designed to prevent suicide by changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors

    • Goal 3: Increase knowledge of the factors that offer protection from suicidal behaviors and that promote wellness and recovery

    • Goal 4: Promote responsible media reporting of suicide, accurate portrayals of suicide and mental illnesses in the entertainment industry, and the safety of online content related to suicide

    • Goal 5: Develop, implement, and monitor effective programs that promote wellness and prevent suicide and related behaviors

    • Goal 6: Promote efforts to reduce access to lethal means of suicide among individuals with identified suicide risk

    • Goal 7: Provide training to community and clinical service providers on the prevention of suicide and related behaviors

    • Goal 8: Promote suicide prevention as a core component of health care services

    • Goal 9: Promote and implement effective clinical and professional practices for assessing and treating those identified as being at risk for suicidal behaviors

    • Goal 10: Provide care and support to individuals affected by suicide deaths and attempts to promote healing and implement community strategies to help prevent further suicides

    • Goal 11: Increase the timeliness and usefulness of surveillance systems relevant to suicide prevention and improve the ability to collect, analyze, and use this information for action

    • Goal 12: Promote and support research on suicide behavior and prevention

    • Goal 13: Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of suicide prevention interventions and systems and synthesize and disseminate findings

To learn more, please contact Sydney Elliott at selliott@mhainde.org