Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition
The Suicide Prevention Coalition has worked vigorously in its efforts to raise awareness about suicide in the state since 2005. As a whole the Coalition believes that educating the community will alleviate multiple misconceptions about mental illness and suicide/suicide prevention. The Coalition developed a statewide suicide prevention plan that creates a seamless pathway for interventions and preventative measures across the entire life span of all Delaware residents. This comprehensive Suicide Prevention Plan is modeled after known best practices and the established goals of the National Suicide Prevention Plan.
Strides made to date include the:
- Establishment of the Suicide Prevention Coalition consisting of multiple states, private and non profit agencies.
- Successful completion by coalition members in a two-day Core Competencies Training Program presented by the National Suicide Prevention Resource Center (NSPRC) in preparation for developing a comprehensive suicide prevention plan for Delaware.
- Collation of a comprehensive set of statistics and demographics for suicide in the State of Delaware to characterize the nature of suicide in the state;
- Placement of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Number (1-800-273-TALK) on the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s digital billboard on the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
- Hosting of three Suicide Prevention Conferences in the State of Delaware with over 400 participants each.
- Identification and coordination of existing crisis services across the state; and
- ASIST trainings for youth rehabilitative services, DSCYF, and the community.
- QPR training for juvenile justice educators, clergy, and the community.
- Warm line transfer to child mental health crisis services from Contact Lifeline.
- Increased staffing for the child development community policing program(CDCP) and Contact Lifeline.
- Establishment of Youth Suicide Prevention Network (YSPN).
- Launching of a teen website maintained by Contact Lifeline: www.delteenspace.org
- Distribution of youth suicide prevention tool kits for youth and families (available through the Mental Health Association of DE)
Chairs:
Kevin A. Huckshorn
Director, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
James Lafferty
Executive Director, Mental Health Association in Delaware
Dana Sawyer
Administrator, Office of Prevention and Early Intervention
Project Director:
Victoria Kim, MSW
Member Organizations of the DE Suicide Prevention Coalition
Child Death, Near Death & Stillbirth Commission
Christiana Care Health Systems
- Emergency Services
- Clinical Pastoral Education
Contact Lifeline
Delaware Attorney General’s Office, Department of Justice
Delaware National Guard
Delaware River and Bay Authority
Department of Education
Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security
- Delaware State Police
Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
- Division of Child Mental Health Services
- Office of Prevention and Early Intervention
Department of Veterans Affairs
Division of Developmental Disability Services
Division of Health and Social Services
- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
- Division of Public Health
- Division of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities
Dover Behavioral Health
Meadow Wood Hospital
Mental Health Association in Delaware
Mid-Atlantic Behavioral Health
Rockford Center
Steps for STEPH (Supporting Teen Esteem and Psychological Health)
University of Delaware
- Center for Counseling and Student Development
Wilmington University
- Emergency Services
- Clinical Pastoral Education
New Castle - (302) 577-2484 - Kent/Sussex - (800) 345-6785
or go the nearest hospital or emergency center, or call 911.