The state of state, territorial, and tribal suicide prevention: Findings from key informant interviews and qualitative web-based survey questions

Given the rise in suicide rates between 1999 and 2016, 33 CDC sought to conduct an environmental scan of suicide prevention infrastructure and activities across states, territories, and tribes in order to better understand the strengths and opportunities for improvement. This report presents an overview of the suicide prevention landscape across multiple domains, depicts a diverse array of resources and activities and identifies some key areas for improvement.

Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of suicide prevention interventions and broadly disseminating these results is important. The CDC Preventing Suicide Technical Package is one resource for documenting and disseminating activities with the best available evidence. Rigorous evaluation of existing and innovative programs, practices, and policies can expand the evidence base of best practices to prevent suicide and also uncover strategies that do not impact suicide, suicide attempts, or risk and protective factors. Finally, more information is needed to understand the extent to which state plans align with the NSSP and rely on the best available evidence.

Apart from results suggesting the need for improvements across suicide prevention domains, states, territories, and tribes reported wide-ranging activities and attention to their populations, often on modest budgets. Current suicide rates indicate that states, territories, and tribes, backed by a strong national response, must continue to use data and science to guide effective prevention approaches to save lives.