Community Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Goal Statement: To increase awareness of suicide and identify prevention strategies and resources to reduce suicide within my community. Significant Findings: Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in Texas and suicide deaths per 100,00 is 12.41 in Fort-Bend county (Fort Bend County Suicide Death Statistics, n.d.). The lifetime medical and work-loss cost of suicide is estimated around $4.264 million and medical cost alone for every attempt is averaged around $8,849 per patient (Texas Department of State Health Services Mobile, n.d.). Key findings show risk factors and protective factors varying across the socio- ecological model of suicide. Research supports Dialectical Behavioral therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral therapy, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training as theories of suicide prevention. In Fort-Bend county, suicide occurs disproportionately among male, white, and below 35 years of age (County Health & Ranking Roadmaps, 2020). Advocacy action to expand the conversation and awareness of suicide can increase protective factors and impact the institutional, community, and public policy levels that surround in one’s environment. Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next Steps: The objective is to educate, inform, and expand on suicide prevention towards the target population in the community. Strategies should focus on the implementation of protective factors in resiliency, self-efficacy, familial support, and community collaboration. Cognitive and dialectical behavioral interventions and goals target symptom reduction in suicide ideation, suicidal behaviors, and major depression. The community-based partner agency in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training supported by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading evidence-based program that focuses on presenting suicide intervention skills and workshops regularly for community members. The next steps investigate the different ways suicide can be given a voice and a platform for advocacy that extends beyond the individual