Suicide Prevention – Everyone has a Role

     Jerry Reed, Director the National Suicide Prevention Resource Center presented the keynote, “The 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: We all have a role” at today’s Bridging the Divide Suicide Awareness and Prevention Summit in Denver, Colorado.

     Dr. Reed started the day with this quote, “You all have a piece of the suicide prevention puzzle – it’s important to all do our part to advance the cause.”

     Throughout the presentation he helped to connect the many roles that are needed to eliminate the tragedy of suicide. He shared three pillars in a “Model for Action” [Richmond and Kotelchuch’s Health Policy Model, 1997] to frame with broad brushes the work that is needed to create a tipping point of change:

1)     Knowledge base – we need to build an evidence-base to know what works for change and a research agenda to help guide our scientific endeavors

2)     Political Will – we need to generate momentum and energy among our community leaders and influencers

3)     Social Strategy – we need to have a coordinated blueprint for change, to help ensure that all players are working together to agreed-upon outcomes

     Reed shared the history of the suicide prevention movement and how the efforts of a few key survivors of suicide loss translated into some sweeping national changes over the last 15 years, eventually evolving into in the 2010 launch of National Action Alliance of Suicide Prevention .

He shared the launch video, documenting the event that brought together some of our nation’s most influential leaders to draw attention to this ground-breaking public-private partnership designed to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention . Some of the voices in the video include:

• ·       Secretary of Army, “Suicide violates our basic warrior ethos. You never leave a comrade behind.”
  ·       Eduardo Vega, Co-Chair of Suicide Attempt Survivors Task Force: “By holding out the hope for others, we let them know we need them. We need to preserve our greatest asset in our county – our brothers and sisters.”
  ·       Senator Gordon Smith: “Those who do this work, work on the side of angels.” 

     People often ask, “what role can I play?” From researchers, to mental health professionals, to suicide survivors, to the media, to every day citizens, everyone can play a role in the work. Details the individual and systemic contributions are outlined in the National Strategy.

     As a way to help us all remember that many of us carry puzzle pieces in this national effort, Reed quoted the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention dedication:

To those who have lost their lives by suicide,

To those who struggle with thoughts of suicide,

To those who have made an attempt on their lives,

To those caring for someone who struggles,

To those left behind after a death by suicide

To those in recover and

To all those who work tirelessly to prevent suicide and suicide attempts in our nation,

We believe that we can and we will make a difference.

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