A Case for Change

During the 2013-2016-time frame, 207 Stanislaus County residents died by suicide, which equates to nearly one suicide death every week.

Suicide takes an emotional toll on families, affects the well-being of the larger community and carries a heavy societal cost burden. The number of deaths from suicide reflects only a portion of the problem. Non-fatal suicidal behaviors and attempts pose a serious challenge and are strongly associated with suicide rates. The multiple contributing factors of suicide and suicidal behaviors are complex and often are attributed to the interaction of several factors. Suicide has no single cause.

For every one suicide, 115 people are directly and indirectly impacted – Hines, 2015

Stanislaus County Suicide Prevention Innovation Project

In 2015, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors and the local Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Representative Stakeholder Steering Committee (RSSC) identified concerns that statewide efforts to reduce suicides had not yielded the desired results in Stanislaus County. A funding recommendation and project proposal for the Suicide Prevention Innovation Project was submitted and subsequently approved by the MHSA Oversight and Accountability Commission.

The Suicide Prevention Innovation Project was funded to use the Collective Impact Model to learn about and address suicides in Stanislaus County. The plan included the convening of an Advisory Board comprised of stakeholders from different sectors of the community to develop a countywide strategic plan integrating suicide awareness and prevention efforts.

The Collective Impact Model is a framework used to tackle deeply rooted and complex social problems. It is the commitment of a group of stakeholders from various sectors of the community, with a shared vision for solving a specific and complex social problem. The Collective Impact Model was selected as the innovative approach because cross-sector perspectives and collaboration are needed to address the complex causes and multiple risk factors of suicide. 

The Suicide Prevention Innovation Project and the work of the Advisory Board concluded formally August 2019. This Scorecard reflects the work of the Advisory Board to identify key sectors to target strategic recommendations and partnerships. The Advisory Board identified the following sectors as areas of focus: Healthcare, Business, Community-Based Organizations, Faith-Based Organizations, and Education. 

As Stanislaus County continues to move forward in addressing suicide through awareness, prevention and intervention strategies, it is the hope of the Advisory Board that the learning from the Suicide Prevention Innovation Project continue to be leveraged and that the collaboration that has mobilized and been birthed through this Project would continue into the future until Stanislaus County is free from suicide and stigma. 

Sincerely,

The Suicide Prevention Innovation Project Advisory Board (2016-2019)
 

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