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Suicide Prevention

Introduction | Suicide in Colorado | Suicide in College | Suicide Prevention | Warning Signs |General Statistics | Risk Factors | Myths | News and Events | Resources | Active Minds Forum

History of Suicide Prevention

From the Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Being able to help a friend who is need can be a crucial step, to start off here is a brief history of suicide prevention from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center:

1958: Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center opens, funded by the U.S. Public Health Service and directed by Edwin Shneidman.

1966: Center for the Study of Suicide Prevention (later renamed the Suicide Prevention Research Unit) established at the National Institute of Mental Health.

1968: American Association of Suicidology founded by Edwin Shneidman.

1983: CDC Violence Prevention Unit (later subsumed into the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control) established; focuses public attention on an increase in the rate of youth suicide.

1985: Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide established to review the problem of youth suicide and recommend actions.

1987: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention founded.

1989: Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

1996: Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN) USA founded with the goal of preventing suicide through public education, community action, and advocacy.

1996: Prevention of Suicide: Guidelines for the Formulation and Implementation of National Strategies published by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, with the participation of a number of agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

1998: National Suicide Prevention Conference held in Reno, Nevada as a response to the WHO/UN publication. This public/private partnership created an expert panel that issued 81 recommendations.

1999: Surgeon General's Call to Action published, which consolidated the National Suicide Prevention Conference's recommendations, including the creation of a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

2001: National Strategy for Suicide Prevention published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It outlined a coherent national plan to enhance the suicide prevention infrastructure, including the creation of a technical assistance and resource center.

2002: Suicide Prevention Resource Center established at Education Development Center, Inc. with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

2002: Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative published by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science. This publication examined and summarized the state of knowledge about suicide and the state of the art of suicide prevention.

2003: Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America published by the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.

2004: Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act passed by the U.S. Congress to support and enhance suicide prevention efforts in the states and at colleges and universities.

2004: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

2005: The Department of Labor, Heath and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 which appropriates a total of $30 million for suicide prevention was signed into law.

What to do if someone you know is thinking about suicide


    For help, call 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK

  • Know the risk factors

  • Take it seriously

    • Seventy-five percent of all people who commit suicde give some warning.

  • Be willing to listen

    • Ask what is troubling and get them to talk with you, don't let them keep things inside. Don't be afraid to ask if they have considered suicide. Don't attempt to argue them out of suicide, let them know that you care and that they are not alone.

  • Seek professional help

    • Encourage the person to see a physician or mental health professional. If the person needs help immediately take them to the emergency room or walk-in clinic and stay with them at all times.

  • Follow up on treatment

    • Suicidal patients are often hesitant to seek help and may avoid it after their initial contact unless there is support in continuing the treatment.

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