Wisconsin's Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Application - Comprehensive Suicide Prevention CDC-RFA-CE22-2204 Notice of Funding Opportunity Project Abstract Summary In response to this CDC Funding Opportunity (CDC-RFA-CE22-2204), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services submits the following proposal to develop, implement, and establish comprehensive suicide prevention within Wisconsin and its rural communities. The purpose of this proposal is to a) create a multi-sectoral partnership, b) to use existing data to select vulnerable populations at risk for suicide death and attempts, c) to create an inventory of existing suicide prevention programs and identify areas for growth to reach vulnerable populations, d) to engage community resources to increase and expand strategies identified in the CDC Technical Package for Preventing Suicide, and e) to develop and implement a communication plan to share results and improve coordination of providers and resources which serve the identified populations. Further, this project will ensure rigorous evaluation of individual selected activities and the success of comprehensive suicide prevention while building sustainable infrastructure to reduce suicide mortality and morbidity through an effective public health approach. The vulnerable populations identified for CSP are rural Wisconsin males aged 25-64 and Wisconsin females aged 10-19. These two populations represent the highest rates of suicide mortality (death) and morbidity (attempts) respectively across the state. Wisconsin will support prevention for rural males aged 25-64 by creating protective environments through encouraging safe storage practices for firearms, promoting connectedness and reducing stigma through peer norm programs, strengthening access and delivery of care by collaborating with partners, strengthening economic supports by reducing evictions and improving housing stability, and strengthening access and delivery of care by improving tele-health services, ultimately reducing suicide rates among this target population. Additionally, by promoting connectedness through peer mentorship, creating protective environments by educating providers and parents on reducing access to lethal means, strengthening access and delivery of care by supporting integrated behavioral healthcare within pediatric settings, and teaching coping and problem solving skills by improving family and parenting relationships through expansion of existing programs throughout Wisconsin, rates of suicide attempts among Wisconsin females aged 10-19 will also be reduced. The combination of these strategies will significantly reduce rates of suicide death, attempts, and ideation; reduce risk factors, and increase protective factors, with the goal of achieving a 10% reduction in mortality and morbidity among the two targeted populations. Strong partnerships exist to accomplish the task of achieving such a substantial reduction, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is well-positioned to lead this program through its internal organizational capacity, and through collaboration with public and private agency support which provides necessary expertise in data analysis, process evaluation, and public health communication. Building upon the strong leadership of DHS within the field of injury and violence prevention, and leveraging current and future partnerships, Wisconsin will benefit from multi-sectoral coordination and ensure sustainability of suicide prevention resources.
