Youth Suicide Prevention: a Survey and Analysis of Policies and Efforts in the 50 States

State-level initiatives directed at youth suicide prevention since 1980 were analyzed by surveying state governors in 1992 & 1996. Questions pertained to legislation, a mandated or recommended school-based suicide prevention curriculum, funding, special advisory councils, a state plan, the development & dissemination of materials, & assessment. The results revealed that while changes in suicide rates over time were statistically significant, they did not relate to any of the variables studied.