{"id":18966,"date":"2026-04-16T12:41:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/?page_id=18966"},"modified":"2026-04-23T13:49:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T17:49:23","slug":"about-suicide-prevention","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/suicide-prevention-institute\/about-suicide-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"About Suicide Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"<som-cell cell-info=\"{&quot;ID&quot;:18944,&quot;post_author&quot;:&quot;122763&quot;,&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-04 14:36:49&quot;,&quot;post_date_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-03-04 19:36:49&quot;,&quot;post_content&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_title&quot;:&quot;SPI \\u2013 Suicide is a Major Public Health Problem \\u2013 3&quot;,&quot;post_excerpt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_status&quot;:&quot;publish&quot;,&quot;comment_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;ping_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;post_password&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_name&quot;:&quot;spi-suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem-3&quot;,&quot;to_ping&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;pinged&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_modified&quot;:&quot;2026-04-22 19:30:58&quot;,&quot;post_modified_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-04-22 23:30:58&quot;,&quot;post_content_filtered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_parent&quot;:0,&quot;guid&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/psych\\\/cell\\\/spi-suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem-3\\\/&quot;,&quot;menu_order&quot;:0,&quot;post_type&quot;:&quot;somcell&quot;,&quot;post_mime_type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;comment_count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;filter&quot;:&quot;raw&quot;}\" cell-meta=\"{&quot;_wpv_contains_gutenberg_views&quot;:[&quot;&quot;],&quot;_upd_sortorder&quot;:[&quot;1&quot;],&quot;layout&quot;:[&quot;RepeatableBoxes&quot;],&quot;cellInformation&quot;:[&quot;{\\&quot;singleCellBlocks\\&quot;:{},\\&quot;repeatableBoxes\\&quot;:[{\\&quot;includeLink\\&quot;:0,\\&quot;statSubheading\\&quot;:\\&quot;1,600+\\&quot;,\\&quot;statDescription\\&quot;:\\&quot;people died by suicide in North Carolina in 2022\\&quot;},{\\&quot;includeLink\\&quot;:0,\\&quot;statSubheading\\&quot;:\\&quot;14,500,000+\\&quot;,\\&quot;statDescription\\&quot;:\\&quot;total calls, texts, and chats to the 988 Lifeline since 2022\\&quot;},{\\&quot;includeLink\\&quot;:1,\\&quot;statSubheading\\&quot;:\\&quot;See More on the Impact of Suicide &gt;\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxUrl\\&quot;:\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/psych\\\/suicide-prevention-institute\\\/suicide-is-a-major-public-health-problem\\\/\\&quot;}],\\&quot;boxCustomStyles\\&quot;:{\\&quot;includeUnderline\\&quot;:1,\\&quot;includeLink\\&quot;:1,\\&quot;primaryHeading\\&quot;:\\&quot;Suicide is a Major Public Health Concern\\&quot;,\\&quot;backgroundColor\\&quot;:\\&quot;mediumBlue\\&quot;},\\&quot;boxType\\&quot;:\\&quot;statInfo\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxStyleOption\\&quot;:\\&quot;statistics\\&quot;}&quot;],&quot;apiCallInformation&quot;:[&quot;{}&quot;]}\"><\/som-cell>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">How Does Prevention Work?<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"nav nav-tabs oscitas-bootstrap-container yourcustomclass\" id=\"unc-tab-0\" role=\"tablist\">\n\n    \n        \n            <li class=\"active oscitas-bootstrap-container nav-tab-list-item\" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"true\">\n\n                    \n            <a role=\"button\" class=\" oscitas-bootstrap-container nav-tab-button\" href=\"#tabs-0-0\" data-toggle=\"tab\">\n\n            Primary Prevention (Upstream)\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/li>\n\n    \n        \n            <li role=\"tab\" class=\"nav-tab-list-item\" aria-selected=\"false\">\n\n                    \n            <a role=\"button\" class=\" oscitas-bootstrap-container nav-tab-button\" href=\"#tabs-0-1\" data-toggle=\"tab\">\n\n            Secondary Prevention (Midstream)\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/li>\n\n    \n        \n            <li role=\"tab\" class=\"nav-tab-list-item\" aria-selected=\"false\">\n\n                    \n            <a role=\"button\" class=\" oscitas-bootstrap-container nav-tab-button\" href=\"#tabs-0-2\" data-toggle=\"tab\">\n\n            Tertiary Prevention (Downstream)\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/li>\n\n    \n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"tab-content\">\n\n    \n        <div role=\"tabpanel\" class=\"tab-pane active oscitas-bootstrap-container\" id=\"tabs-0-0\">\n        \n            Primary prevention addresses the root causes of suicide. This includes trauma, the ongoing mental health crisis, poor access to health care, and other risk factors.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18957\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream-1024x539.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream-1024x539.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream-1536x809.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream-800x420.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream-600x316.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Upstream.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1170c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1170c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4deb3b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4deb3b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p><b>Examples of primary prevention (upstream) strategies include:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46a3b7f elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"46a3b7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Programs that enhance social connectedness (school-based programs, community events, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Programs that support high-risk and underserved groups of people (veterans, rural, older adults, firearm safety, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Resources for the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions that prevent suicidal behaviors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Governmental policies that improve economic supports in communities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n        <div role=\"tabpanel\" class=\"tab-pane  oscitas-bootstrap-container\" id=\"tabs-0-1\">\n        \n            Secondary prevention identifies people who face emerging risks. It also intervenes to keep them safe and connects them to the right supports to prevent a suicidal crisis.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18959\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream-1024x539.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream-1024x539.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream-1536x809.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream-800x420.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream-600x316.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Midstream.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af9df1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af9df1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p><b>Examples of secondary prevention (midstream) strategies include:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fbdce4 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"7fbdce4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Screening for mental health conditions and suicidal thoughts (schools, primary care, and pediatric settings, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Programs that decrease stigma and normalize help-seeking and help-giving behaviors (public awareness campaigns, education on safe messaging, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Training for people and populations about how to talk to other people about suicide (courses, events, virtual, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n        <div role=\"tabpanel\" class=\"tab-pane  oscitas-bootstrap-container\" id=\"tabs-0-2\">\n        \n            Tertiary prevention guides the response to suicidal crises. It also promotes approaches to these crises that have connection, dignity, and empowerment (and not fear).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18958\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream-1024x539.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream-1024x539.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream-1536x809.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream-800x420.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream-600x316.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/839\/2026\/03\/SPI-Downstream.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1170c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1170c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p><strong>Examples of tertiary prevention (downstream) strategies include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53f4bee elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"53f4bee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Access to effective crisis response (988, mobile teams, walk-in centers, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Effective treatments to help people cope and recover (rapid therapeutics, multimodal interventions, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Steps to reduce access to lethal means (gun locks, medication lockboxes, bridge barriers, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\"><span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Safety planning (help to create a clear plan, continuity in follow up\/care, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">Resources on Suicide Prevention<\/h2>\n<p>Use these resources to find more action steps and strategies on suicide prevention.<\/p>\n<dl class=\"osc-deslist   oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<dt>Zero Suicide<\/dt><dd>Toolkits, resources, and other helpful guidance on scalable suicide prevention strategies.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/zerosuicide.edc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Suicide Prevention Resource Center<\/dt><dd>Insights on how to plan and implement scalable suicide prevention strategies with real-world examples and other evidence-based guidance.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/sprc.org\/effective-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/dt><dd>Robust list of strategies and action steps to reduce suicide based on the best available evidence.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/suicide\/resources\/prevention.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>NC Department of Health and Human Services<\/dt><dd>Resources, toolkits, and data on suicide prevention for individuals, communities, and providers.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncdhhs.gov\/about\/department-initiatives\/suicide-prevention-resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>U.S. Department of Health and Human Services<\/dt><dd>Details on the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, a bold new 10-year, comprehensive, whole-of-society approach to suicide prevention.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/programs\/prevention-and-wellness\/mental-health-substance-use-disorder\/national-strategy-suicide-prevention\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>American Foundation for Suicide Prevention<\/dt><dd>A host of good resources on suicide prevention for individuals, communities, veterans, and more.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/suicide-prevention-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>National Institute of Mental Health<\/dt><dd>Background and insights on the Suicide Research Team (SRT), which leads NIMH\u2019s suicide research activities.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/research\/priority-research-areas\/suicide-research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>Reporting on Suicide<\/dt><dd>Recommendations for media on how to report on suicide in a way that avoids negative influence on behavior and encourages help-seeking.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reportingonsuicide.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>NC Department of Health and Human Services<\/dt><dd>Links to data that offer insight into suicides and mental health-related behaviors at the state and local levels.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncdhhs.gov\/about\/department-initiatives\/suicide-prevention-resources\/data-sources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<dt>American Foundation for Suicide Prevention \u2014 NC Chapter<\/dt><dd>North Carolina-specifc resources on suicide prevention, such as events, fundraising opportunities, updates and more.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/chapter\/north-carolina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Resource<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"www-somHeader\">Courses<\/h2>\n<p>Free courses on topics around suicide prevention.<\/p>\n<dl class=\"osc-deslist   oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<dt>LivingWorks Suicide Prevention Trainings<\/dt><dd>Evidence-based training that empowers individuals, organizations and communities to work together to help keep people safer from suicide.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/livingworks.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Course<\/a><\/span><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; Use these resources to find more action steps and strategies on suicide prevention. &nbsp; Free courses on topics around suicide prevention. &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122763,"featured_media":0,"parent":18342,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-18966","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Effective 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