Youth Suicide Prevention Plan for Washington State. Executive Summary

In 1995, under the joint leadership of the Department of Health and the University of Washington School of Nursing, a dedicated group of advocates and people who lost family and friends to suicide created the 1995 ÒWashington State Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention.Ó Many other people contributed their knowledge, experience and passion to develop the plan. Four Key Areas in the 1995 Plan 1. Universal Prevention Ð raising awareness about the problem and giving information everyone should know. 2. Selective Prevention Ð teaching people to identify a youth at risk of suicide, learn where to turn for help, and promote a crisis response to suicidal youth. 3. Indicated Prevention Ð offering family support and building skills in suicidal youth so they can make different choices to cope with their stress. 4. Evaluation Ð measuring the success of prevention programs and activities as they are implemented.