Suicide Prevention

Current efforts in mental health promotion and suicide prevention

In 2012, the State Prevention Enhancement Consortium (SPE Consortium) prioritized suicide and mental health promotion based on data that demonstrates a nexus with substance abuse and mental health problems and other youth-focused problems, such as low academic achievement and youth violence.

Also in 2012, Michael Compton, Ph.D., and Dr. Ruth Shim, two of the country's leading mental health promotion experts, worked with DBHR staff to increase their ability to plan for and implement mental health promotion efforts. Their presentation, called Mental Health Promotion, deals with the following subject areas: What is Mental Health Promotion?, Bridging the Gap (between Prevention and Mental Health), and Mobilizing Toward Action.

A Suicide and Mental Health Workgroup was formed to examine suicide prevention and mental health issues. The workgroup includes the Department of Health's youth suicide prevention program, statewide youth suicide service providers, tribal representatives, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Department of Early Learning, Healthcare Authority, and Department of Social and Health Services. Since its inception, the workgroup has: 

  • Arranged for community capacity-building resources for the Wenatchee valley to address a two-year spike in suicides
  • Met with the DSHS Secretary and DSHS Office of Indian Policy to discuss suicides among American Indians and Alaska Natives
  • Helped develop a powerful video portrait of a successful community mobilization in White Swan that has helped reduce suicides there; and 
  • Organized a first-ever statewide suicide prevention awareness effort in Spring 2013.

The workgroup submitted an application for federal Garrett Lee Smith suicide prevention funding. The grant proposal was not accepted for funding, but it would have focused on counties and communities with high 5-year overall suicides and high youth suicides. The project would use evidence-based practices, develop effective referral networks from school-based student assistance specialists and other helping professionals (including law enforcement, fire departments, emergency room staff, and ambulance crews), and would increase the effectiveness of work by primary healthcare and behavioral healthcare providers in communities around suicide prevention. 

Other efforts include:

  • Organizing Mental Health First Aid trainings in support of implementation of HB 1336 and participated on HB1336 workgroup advising OSPI - the agency named as lead in the bill - on implementation of training and other requirements.
  • Participating in review of proposals for contractor to develop model suicide prevention and post-vention curricula as part of HB 1336 implementation.
  • 20 tribes submitted applications to participate in the Washington State Tribal Mental Health Promotion Project and all were allocated grants for $14,700 for SFY14.  Of those, 8 tribes selected evidence based programs that specifically target suicide. The project is designed to bring funding to the tribes to focus on a specific issue related to mental health.  

For more information contact Scott.Waller@dshs.wa.gov, or visit: