Striving for Zero
Suicide in California remains a significant public health challenge. In 2020, 4,075 Californians lost their lives to suicide.
There is hope. The evidence for effective suicide prevention practices is growing every day. Guided by data and community input, the Commission developed a statewide strategic plan for suicide prevention that incorporates the latest information and evidence to guide state and local actions for saving lives.
Striving for Zero: California’s Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention 2020-2025
Goal/Opportunity
This project aims to develop a strategic plan to align local and regional efforts with state priorities in delivering best practices for suicide prevention.
The project has already produced a comprehensive strategic vision for preventing suicide and suicidal behavior based on community guidelines and the latest science.
The state’s approach follows the public health model, which is characterized by four repeating steps:
- defining the problem
- identifying the factors that increase or lower risk
- developing and evaluating prevention interventions, and
- implementing interventions and disseminating results to spread knowledge of effective interventions.
Background
Assembly Bill 114 directed the Commission to develop a statewide strategic suicide prevention plan. In early 2018, the Commission formed a Suicide Prevention Subcommittee that included Commissioners Tina Wooton (Chair), Khatera Tamplen, and Mara Madrigal-Weiss.
The Commission adopted Striving for Zero: California’s Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention, 2020-2025 in November 2019. The 2020–21 Budget Act authorized the Commission to allocate $2 million over the next two fiscal years to begin implementing the plan.
Recommendations
The Commission will begin implementing Striving for Zero in several key areas:
- Local Strategic Planning and Implementation (see Striving for Zero Suicide Prevention Strategic Planning Learning Collaborative for details)
- Lethal Means Reduction
- Standardized Suicide Risk Screening Training for Educators (see Suicide Risk Screening in Schools for details)
- Data-Driven Prevention (see Suicide Fatality Review Process Webinar for details)
Project Milestones
Reach out to learn more about Striving for Zero initiatives.
