About Suicide Prevention

Minnesota suicide prevention efforts are based on evidence that most suicides are preventable, mental illness is treatable, and recovery is possible. Suicide is a serious public health problem that can leave lasting effects on individuals, families and communities. Suicide is complex; there is no single cause of death by suicide. But most importantly, suicide is preventable.

Suicide prevention in action

Our goal is zero. The Suicide Prevention Program is working to reduce suicide in Minnesota by 10% in five years, and 20% in 10 years, ultimately working towards zero deaths. Our Minnesota State Plan calls for a comprehensive, public health approach that promotes health, wellness, resilience and connectedness in all communities. Key partners include schools, coaches, faith communities, law enforcement, tribal nations, and health and behavioral health care practitioners.

Guiding goals:

• Support healthy and empowered individuals, families and communities.
• Coordinate effective programs to promote wellness, build resilience, and prevent suicidal behaviors.
• Promote suicide prevention as a core component of health care.
• Increase the timeliness and usefulness of data systems relevant to suicide prevention.
• Sustain suicide prevention efforts.

Working across Minnesota

Grantees are working across Minnesota to implement suicide prevention plans in communities and provide prevention services and trainings.

View the complete list of current Suicide Prevention State Grantees.

Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Task Force

The Minnesota Department of Health and SAVE co-chair the Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Task Force. Members include loss survivors, advocates, state government, local public health, and the faith community. The task force works together to provide strategic, system level direction to implement the State Plan. Additionally, four subcommittees work on each of the four goals in the state plan.

Get involved

Anyone can get involved in suicide prevention.

• Educate yourself on suicide, suicide risk factors and suicide prevention.
• Take a training on suicide prevention, such as Gatekeeper Trainings – QPR and SafeTalk, and Mental Health First Aid.
• Become a Certified Peer Specialist.
• Loss survivors – learn to tell your story in a safe way.
• Learn about safe messaging, and how to talk about suicide.

Contact

Contact the Suicide Prevention Unit at Health.suicideprev.MDH@state.mn.us for more information on the Suicide Prevention Unit.