The Facing Suicide VT initiative is working in many different areas to support suicide prevention.

Below are just a few of the program successes happening across Vermont.

Suicide awareness and supports among community partners

Facing Suicide VT is working with the Center for Health and Learning and the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center to provide training for community organizations and leaders on how to identify and support individuals who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings.

If you or your organization is interested in training to increase awareness, skill, and comfort to appropriately identify, support, and refer individuals who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact The Center for Health and Learning.

Expanding peer supports

Facing Suicide VT is working with several community partners to expand recovery and peer support groups to support the mental health of people who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, as well as individuals who have lost someone to suicide.

For more information about peer support in Vermont, check out these peer service organizations.

Suicide prevention in emergency deparments

Facing Suicide VT is working with the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care and the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Care Systems to support improved suicide prevention practices in Emergency Departments. This multi-year project will focus on improving screening, assessment, safety planning to reduce access to lethal means, and follow-up care for individuals at-risk for suicide. It will support Vermont hospital Emergency Departments and with monetary, educational, and networking resources to work to improve care for individuals who visit with mental health and/or substance use disorder needs.

Learn more about the Vermont Emergency Department Suicide Prevention Quality Improvement Initiative.

Suicide loss support

Facing Suicide VT completed an assessment of current practices and gaps in how communities respond and provide support following suicide deaths and developed recommendations for improving local, regional, and state-wide capacity. For a copy of the assessment and recommendations, click here.

Interested in learning more about this grant?  Contact us.