The Suicide Prevention Plan, launched in May 2002 by the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH), establishes three goal areas for Ohio's suicide prevention strategies: Awareness, Intervention and Methodology, or AIM. Funds provided by the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), through a grant from the ODMH, will support activities directly associated with the Awareness Goal, Objective 1:

Awareness Objective 1: Develop local, broad based support for suicide prevention.

Awareness Goal: Increase awareness that suicide is a public health and mental health problem in order to reduce stigma and increase people's ability to seek help.

Create or enhance a suicide prevention coalition in each Ohio county to develop a prevention plan based upon local needs and resources available. Coalition partners should include, but not be limited to, representatives of the Child Fatality Review Board, school districts, court system, law enforcement, health department, crisis response teams, Area Agency on Aging, local news media, hospitals, human services providers, faith-based organizations, health care professional organizations, local service organizations (Kiwanis, Sertoma, Lions, Jaycees, Grange, etc.), mental health and addiction services boards, survivor groups, and human resource offices or employee assistance programs for local employers.

The full copy of the plan can be accessed from the ODMH web site CLICK HERE

Why support and promote suicide prevention coalitions?

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation's and ODMH's support and promotion of suicide prevention coalitions is deeply rooted in the belief that the number of Ohioans dying from suicide is largely preventable through implementation of the AIM strategies. These strategies can be planned and accomplished through local partnerships that work to strengthen local communities.

Scope of Work

The purpose of this announcement is to provide a non-competitive opportunity to ADAMH/CMH Boards to receive fiscal and technical assistance with establishing or enhancing a county, board area or regional* (counties within a board area or more than one board) suicide prevention coalition.

ADAMH/CMH Boards, through this initiative, must:

• Support activities and related costs associated with creating and building a coalition where none currently exist; or

• Promote and implement programs and activities that will enhance already established coalitions or groups functioning in the same capacity of a suicide prevention coalition; and

• Develop a suicide prevention plan for the established coalition area

Examples of coalition building and enhancement activities these grant funds can support include, but are not limited to:

• Coalition membership recruitment ** (cannot exceed 5% of the total award)

• Speakers/trainers on coalition development, team building, strategic planning, suicide prevention, etc.

• Consultation on coalition development, team building, strategic planning, suicide prevention, etc.

• Development, printing and dissemination of the suicide prevention plan developed by the coalition and other related educational materials

• Marketing strategies to raise awareness

• Efforts to increase education and awareness of suicide prevention activities

• Programs and special activities to promote coalition efforts

• Stipends for family members' and survivors' participation on the coalition

• Support for the formation of Survivor of Suicide (SOS) groups; and

• Other activities that will support coalition development and promote suicide prevention

** These funds cannot support: administrative costs exceeding 5% of the total grant amount including indirect costs, recruitment expenses, and fiscal accounting; purchase of equipment; rent; utilities; etc.

Technical Assistance & Support

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, Suicide Prevention Resource Center trained presenters, and established coalitions in Ohio will provide technical assistance and support to newly forming coalitions on organizational/developmental approaches and suicide prevention planning. In addition to this technical assistance, a leadership training for all new coalition leaders and a series of trainings will be offered to coalition members at no cost (with the exception of travel and related expenses).

Trainings will focus on the following:

• Suicide 101 – Scope of the Problem
• Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention
• Understanding and Using Data
• Creating a Logic Model and Framework for Evaluation
• Action Planning
• Working Together and Building Partnerships
• Building and Maintaining a Coalition
• Strategic Plan Development
• Gatekeeper Training
• Suicide Prevention and Risk Assessment/Management

A schedule of these trainings will be established and disseminated once coalitions funded under the NOFA are identified. Dr. Ellen Anderson, OSPF Suicide Prevention Consultant, and Suicide Prevention Resource Center trained presenters will conduct the trainings and are also available to work one-on-one, face-to-face with coalitions to assist with coalition development and enhancement efforts. Consultation can be supported by grant funding. A number of established suicide prevention coalitions in Ohio have agreed to provide technical assistance to new grantees upon request.