Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Suicide is preventable and requires strategies at all levels of society. Effective suicide prevention is comprehensive: it requires a combination of efforts that work together to address different aspects of the problem. The Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition was formed in November 2012 when 150 community partners gathered for a suicide prevention summit to discuss rising rates of suicide in Johnson County, Kansas. Over the past 10 years, the coalition has grown to a membership of over 400 individuals representing a variety of community sectors, providing a diversity of perspectives and solutions. Ongoing barriers in Johnson County include access to timely and affordable mental health and substance use care and treatment. The coalition works in a collective impact approach, working with a common vision to implement scalable and sustainable strategies to prevent suicide in Johnson County and beyond. With its community partners, the Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition saves and supports life through awareness, education, and outreach. Over the past decade, the coalition has focused on reducing stigma, increasing education and awareness, providing means restriction devices, and promoting access to timely and affordable care.