Co-Leaders and Members

Co-Leaders

Name	Title	Organization
Tony V. Locklear	Tribal Liaison Consultant Quality Assurance Coordinator	NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch Hoke County Health Department
Anne L. Geissinger, MPH, RDN	NC Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator & Team Lead	NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch
Sue Anne Pilgreen, MSN, RN, CPN	Manager, Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program Manager, Pediatric Asthma Program Executive Director, Safe Communities Coalition of Pitt County	ECU Health Medical Center, Greenville, NC

Members:

The Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (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.

If you are interested in learning more about suicide prevention in North Carolina and/or attending the next CSPAC meeting, please email Megan Lueck at mlueck@email.unc.edu.

Priorities

The NC SHIP priorities were integrated into the existing Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC). 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 Schedule

2024-2025 Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC) Meeting Schedule:

Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Zoom
Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Zoom
Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Zoom
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 10:00 to 11:30 am, Zoom

Meeting Notes

May 14, 2025, Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC) Meeting and Updates:

#	Policy (Levers for Change)	DPH Work Update
1	Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means	Created a Summer Series of talks including reduction of lethal means.
2	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ youth	Continue to share resources at the advisory council meetings as well as an Eastern Regional Academy and Western Regional Academy.
3	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans	Holding a CALM T-4-T training Summer 2025. Additionally, continue to provide gatekeeper training to faith leaders, members of faith communities, and 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; training How to be an Ally is available. Additionally, DPI has located funding to allow teachers to pay for their substitute teachers allowing them to attend.
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; provide link to partners for them to access free 988 materials including posters, magnets, etc. New shareable materials have come out and DPH has shared these materials through Academies & CSPAC meetings.

February 12, 2025 Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC) Meeting and Updates:

#	Policy (Levers for Change)	DPH Work Update
1	Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means	Support advertising for next training for Firearm Safety Team creation.
2	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ youth	Continue to share resources at the advisory council meetings. Participate in the Black Youth Suicide Prevention Policy conference and NC state group.
3	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans	Held a two-day ASIST workshop for 24 people. Additionally, continue to provide gatekeeper training to faith leaders, members of faith communities, and 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; training How to be an Ally is available. Additionally, DPI has located funding to allow teachers to pay for their substitute teachers allowing them to attend.
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; provide link to partners for them to access free 988 materials including posters, magnets, etc.

November 13, 2024, Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (CSPAC) Meeting and Updates:

#	Policy (Levers for Change)	DPH Work Update
1	Implement policies targeted to decrease access to lethal means	Focus group on secure storage in NC has been held; data is being reviewed and will be shared at the next quarterly Firearm Safety Team Collaboration mtg.
2	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ youth	Will share resources at the next advisory council meeting, specifically aimed at helping counties in Western NC who were devastated by Hurricane Helene.
3	Increase programs that provide mental health services and support for military veterans	Gatekeeper training has been provided to 121 faith leaders, 151 members of faith communities, and 184 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; training How to be an Ally is available. Additionally, DPI has located funding to allow teachers to pay for their substitute teachers allowing them to attend.
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; provide link to partners for them to access free 988 materials including posters, magnets, etc.

Readings/Listenings

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