A National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

April 25, 2024

The White House this week launched its national strategy and first-ever federal action plan for suicide prevention.

Leaders across the federal government identified the issue as a priority, with more than 49,000 people dying by suicide during 2022. On Tuesday, the White House released its national strategy and a corresponding action plan to support the initiative.

“The need for this strategy is reflected in the heartbreaking and alarmingly high statistics surrounding suicide and suicidal ideation,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Four key areas:  The national strategy includes four key areas: community-based suicide prevention; treatment and crisis services; surveillance, quality improvement, and research; and health equity.
• Public health crisis:  Suicide is a growing public health crisis, accounting for one death every 11 minutes.
• Risk groups:  The crisis is particularly concerning for youth, veterans, certain racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ populations, middle-aged, and older adults, individuals with serious mental illness, and certain occupational groups, among others.
• Federal action plan:  The new action plan lists 200 steps for the next three years, including evaluating community-based suicide prevention strategies; identifying ways to address substance use/overdose and suicide risk together in the clinical setting; funding a mobile crisis locator for use by 988 crisis centers; and increasing support for survivors of suicide loss and others whose lives have been impacted by suicide.
• Quotable:  “Improving mental health and preventing suicides requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” said CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH.

The 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan are available online.

Note: The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available online or by texting or calling 988.