Priorities

The NC SHIP priorities were integrated into the existing Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC). The CSPAC convenes suicide prevention professionals (Division of Mental Health/ Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services [DMH/DD/SAS], Department of Public Instruction [DPI]), loss survivors, attempt survivors, people who have accessed mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (MH/SU/IDD) services, veterans, and special populations including Black, Latino/Hispanic, those that identify as person of color (POC) and LGBTQ+ youth to guide action plan components and implementation of strategies.

The North Carolina Suicide Prevention Action Plan (NC SPAP) acknowledges that suicide prevention is complex, and the plan is structured to implement comprehensive strategies in the following focus areas to reduce injury and death by suicide. Refer to the NC Suicide Prevention Action Plan for additional information about this plan, data and justification, strategies, and related actions. The policies included below are the focus areas for the NC SPAP.

Create a coordinated infrastructure
Reduce access to lethal means
Increase community awareness and prevention
Identify populations at risk
Provide crisis intervention with a specific focus on people with increased risk
Provide access to and delivery of suicide care
Measure our impact and revise strategies based on results

Action Plan

The North Carolina Suicide Prevention Action Plan is available at https://injuryfreenc.dph.ncdhhs.gov/preventionResources/docs/CSP-ActionPlanFinal.pdf.

Meeting Notes

August 8, 2023, Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC)

Updates on priorities:

#	Policy (Levers for Change)	DPH Work Update
1	Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means	Sent survey to current and evolving Firearm Safety Teams to gather information on interest in building a coalition
2	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ youth	Awaiting to see if DPI obtains additional funding to support a second T4T for the How to Be An Ally training.
3	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans	Gatekeeper training has been provided to 74 faith leaders, 113 members of faith communities, and approximately 182 individuals who intersect with veterans.
4	Create trauma-informed schools with access to mental health providers	Achieved goal of working with DPI on SP training and education for staff; see update on Ally training above.
5	Modernization of data systems	DPH is currently working on this lever.
6	Expand rapid access to crisis services, including implementing the national 988 numbers	DPH continues to include 988 and publicity materials in presentations at local and state level. Presented overview of 988 (1 year) anniversary of rolling out the number) at CSPAC.

May 10, 2023, Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC)

Updates on prioritized policies:

#	Policy (Levers for Change)	DPH Work Update
1	Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means	4 firearm safety teams (FST) attended Spring 2023 training by Durham. Connected 3 FSTs to the Office of Violence Prevention for June community awareness events.
2	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ youth	Trainer curriculum for Ally training has been finalized. T4T occurred April 11 and April 12, 2023.
3	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans	Gatekeeper training has been provided to 43 faith leaders, 102 members of faith communities, and approximately 174 individuals who intersect with veterans.
4	Create trauma-informed schools with access to mental health providers	Achieved goal of working with DPI on SP training and education for staff; see update on Ally training above.
5	Modernization of data systems	DPH is currently working on this lever.
6	Expand rapid access to crisis services, including implementing the national 988 numbers	DPH continues to include 988 and publicity materials in presentations at local and state level. Presented newest materials at CSPAC.

February 8, 2023, Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC)

Updates on prioritized policies:

#	Policy (Levers for Change)	DPH Work Update
1	Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means	2 firearm safety teams (FST) currently attending January & February training by Durham.
2	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ youth	Trainer curriculum for Ally training has been finalized. Currently awaiting date for T4T.
3	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans	Gatekeeper training has been provided to 43 faith leaders, 42 members of faith communities, and approximately 126 individuals who intersect with veterans.
4	Create trauma-informed schools with access to mental health providers	Working with DPI on SP training and education for staff; see update on Ally training above.
5	Modernization of data systems	DPH is currently working on this lever.
6	Expand rapid access to crisis services, including implementing the national 988 numbers	DPH continues to include 988 and publicity materials in presentations at local and state level.

December 19, 2022, Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC)

Updates on prioritized policies:

#	Policy (Levers for Change)	DPH Work Update
1	Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means	2 firearm safety teams (FST) attended training by Durham. 2 more slated for January training by Durham.
2	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ youth	Ally training has been updated. Trainer curriculum is being updated alongside this training.
3	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans	Gatekeeper training has been provided to 23 faith leaders, 230 members of faith communities, and approximately 70 individuals who intersect with veterans.
4	Create trauma-informed schools with access to mental health providers	Working with DPI on SP training and education for staff; see update on Ally training above.
5	Modernization of data systems	DPH is currently working on this.
6	Expand rapid access to crisis services, including implementing the national 988 numbers	DMH provided update on 988 roll out at CSPAC meeting. Also, shared creatives allowing all partners to have access to NC specific 988 advertising.

November 2022

NC Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC) meeting held.

September 19, 2022

Published Suicide Prevention Action Plan. The North Carolina Suicide Prevention Action Plan is focused on specific actions to be taken in North Carolina over the next four years to reduce injury and death by suicide. For additional information refer to the press release.

August 10, 2022, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Comprehensive Suicide Advisory Prevention Council Meeting

Co-Leads: Catherine English, Anne Geissinger, Sue Pilgreen, and Glorina Stallworth

Discussion:

Discussed the proposed policy initiatives from the NC SHIP for Indicator 19: Suicide Rate, and then prioritized 6 of the 13 policies. The prioritized policies were then ranked as follows, with number 1 being most important.

Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means
Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ youth
Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans
Create trauma-informed schools with access to mental health providers
Modernization of data systems
Expand rapid access to crisis services, including implementing the national 988 number

Reviewed work currently being done by the Division of Public Health to assist with identifying where to focus efforts throughout the year.

SUICIDE

Priorities

Action Plan

Meeting Notes