Overview - (SPAN-California)

Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network-California (SPAN-California) is a non-profit organization existing to reduce suicide by creating awareness, building links between agencies, and advocating legislative policy in support of suicide prevention.

The problem of suicide is monumental in California and has been growing significantly over the past three decades. Each year there are approximately 3,000 deaths by suicide in our state, exceeding homicide deaths by 144 percent and exceeding HIV/AIDS deaths by 202 percent. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death. It affects all age groups over age 5 and cuts across all gender, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. (more stats)

Background

The Federal government has responded to the crisis of suicide in our country by recognizing the problem and taking the public health approach to solving it. (Congressional resolutions - Senate, House)

The Surgeon General has created a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) (y2001) and calls for each state to make suicide prevention a priority, the first step being the drafting of a state plan for suicide prevention. (NSSP)

To this end, SPAN-California is proposing to hold a two-day statewide conference in Sacramento. The purpose is to develop recommendations for implementing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention within California to significantly reduce the suicide death rate. No current plan exists in California and there is no doubt that we need a unified and consistent approach to the problem of suicide. (conference info)

Our own Governor and State Legislators recently created an annual Suicide Prevention Week and recognized suicide as a major public health problem. State Senate and Assembly resolutions were passed recognizing the extent of suicide and suicide attempts, including costs of emergency room visits. These resolutions further declare that suicide prevention is a state priority and call for the creation of a state plan. (Senate resolutions - Assembly resolutions)

More recently, the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health released a report, making suicide prevention a top priority and calling for the implementation of the Surgeon General's National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. (New Freedom Commission report).

Mission

This is the mission of SPAN-California-to foster the development and implementation of a state plan for suicide prevention to save lives. SPAN-California was founded in 1999 as a force for suicide prevention, an arena for collaboration among agencies and a voice in our state capitol. Let your voice be heard by attending the conference, sending a donation of support, or being added to our mailing list to receive our newsletter.

State conference

    California Strategy for Suicide Prevention
    May 6-7, 2004
    Sacramento, CA
SPAN-California is planning a two-day conference to begin a process that will result in a realistic and useful tool that will serve as a blueprint for everyone to work from. All stakeholders will be invited to become involved in this process. This state plan, or Strategy for Suicide Prevention, will be unique to our state and will encompass California's large and diverse population. (link to registration form - downloadable PDF)

The two-day conference will focus on developing strategies, activities and practices to support the eleven goals recommended by the NSSP to reduce the incidence of suicide. General sessions, guest speakers and meals will be conducted in a large ballroom and breakout sessions will be held in five smaller rooms. The attendees will break into five groups, each addressing some of the goals in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The eleven goals from the NSSP will be customized to California and additional strategies will be brought forth by each group, ensuring the plan addresses our unique issues and diverse populations. At the end of the conference, we will have an outline of a comprehensive plan for California. This preliminary plan will be presented to the director of the California Department of Mental Health. After his final endorsement, the plan will be published and widely distributed.

The first day will focus on information about suicide prevention and strategies for developing suicide prevention policies. On the second day we will have a session to evaluate the results of day one, refine or add to the recommendations, and provide workshops focused on the best practices in suicide prevention. The event will include a major keynote speaker and speakers at various meals. There will be after-hour opportunities to view new videos, media presentations and network with other participants. Internet technology will be used where applicable. Space will be available for organizations to promote themselves and their materials. A press conference will be held before the conference opens and upon the conclusion of the event.

Our primary target populations for attending the conference include, but are not limited to:

  • Survivors
  • Mental health consumers
  • Policy makers (legislators and staff, state office holders in relevant parts of the state government, federal health agency employees, County Mental Health Directors
  • Mental healthcare workers
  • Clinicians
  • Emergency workers
  • Corrections workers
  • Educators
  • Mental health advocate groups
  • Clergy
  • Crisis center volunteers
Our secondary population will be those groups most at risk for suicide and their families. These groups will benefit most directly from a coordinated and comprehensive suicide prevention plan/strategy that is implemented at the community level. These high-risk groups include:
  • Black males
  • Native Americans
  • Asian Females
  • Seniors
  • Youth age 15 to 24
  • Survivors of the suicide of a loved one
  • Gay and lesbian population
At the completion of the conference we will have:
  • A summary of best practice suicide prevention methods identified at the conference
  • A strategy and structure for furthering the goals identified at the conference
  • A recommended plan of action that recognizes the multicultural/diverse State's demographics
  • Commitment from participants for follow-up activities
  • Assigned activities with timelines
  • A schedule of meetings/events to continue the momentum of the work to be done
More stats:

According to the CDC, each year in the U.S., almost 30,000 lives are lost to suicide. Approximately 10%, or 3,000, of these deaths occur in California, Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college age people and the third leading cause of death for youth. The rate is disproportionately high for seniors and it is the number one cause of death in prisons and jails. Additionally, suicide does not just affect one victim; it profoundly affects the victim's family, friends, classmates and co-workers, sometimes generating depression and even more suicide.

Congressional resolutions:

The 105th Congress (both houses) passed twin resolutions that recognized suicide as a national problem and declared suicide prevention to be a national priority. The Resolutions acknowledged that no single suicide prevention program or effort will be appropriate for all populations or communities. It also encouraged initiatives dedicated to:

    a. preventing suicide;
    b. responding to people at risk for suicide and people who have attempted suicide;
    c. promoting safe and effective treatment for persons at risk for suicidal behavior;
    d. supporting people who have lost someone to suicide; and
    e. developing an effective national strategy for the prevention of suicide
The resolution further encouraged the development and promotion of accessibility and affordability of mental health services to enable all persons at risk for suicide to obtain the services, without fear of any stigma.

Surgeon General's NSSP:

In response to these resolutions, Surgeon General David Satcher developed a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) in 2001. The NSSP identifies 11 major goals and calls for each state to develop a plan, unique to that state's own population.

New Freedom Commission on Mental Health:

Most recently, in July 2003, the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health released a report with goals and recommendations for improving the mental health system in our country. Suicide prevention is one of its top goals. The report acknowledged the link between mental illness and suicide and recommended the implementation of the NSSP, including the creation of state plans.

California Resolutions:

The California Governor and State Legislators have designated the first full week of May as Suicide Prevention Week. In May 2003, Senate Resolution 18 and House Resolution 30 were passed in 2003 recognizing the problem of suicide in California. The resolutions state that in the year 2000, 33,000 people who tried to commit suicide unsuccessfully were treated in emergency rooms or admitted to hospitals for treatment. The hospital charges alone for suicide attempt inpatients, exceeded $275,000,000. The resolutions call for state and local public and private organizations to cooperate to develop and implement a California Strategy for Suicide Prevention and call this a state priority.