{"id":2,"date":"2016-05-17T15:07:02","date_gmt":"2016-05-17T15:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/suicide-prevention\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:29:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:29:19","slug":"suicide-prevention-in-virginia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/suicide-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Suicide Systems Project<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

Vision:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

A Virginia\u202f\u200b<\/span>with\u00a0built environments\u202fthat foster connection,\u202fbelonging, and flourishing<\/span><\/b>\u202fand\u202f\u200b<\/span>where\u00a0suicide is as\u202fpreventable as possible<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Goal:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

All Virginians will receive\u00a0<\/span>clear, coordinated,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>and<\/span>\u00a0robust support when navigating suicide<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Approach:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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  • Our work calls for a\u00a0<\/span>dynamic upstream approach to suicide.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    • There\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>no single strategy to address suicide\u00a0because\u00a0suicide\u00a0is\u00a0not an isolated individual event<\/span><\/b>.\u200b\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      • Many factors may contribute to suicide,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0including the conditions where we are born, grow, work, live, and age.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        6 Core Strategies:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

        1. Identify Gaps in Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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            1. Collect, analyze,\u00a0evaluate,\u00a0and publish\u00a0data.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
            2. Gather\u00a0input\u00a0from partner\u00a0groups\u00a0and\u00a0people\u00a0with\u00a0lived\u00a0experience. This input helps\u00a0to\u00a0understand\u00a0state\u00a0and local\u00a0needs\u00a0and opportunities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              2. Make Prevention Efforts Stronger to Fill Gaps: <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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                  1. Stand up\u00a03\u00a0centers\u00a0to\u00a0provide support for settings that need suicide prevention\u00a0supports. These are\u00a0known as\u00a0\u201chubs.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
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                    • The\u00a0<\/span>K-12\u00a0School – Campus\u00a0Hub<\/span><\/b>\u00a0supports\u00a0K-12 schools, community colleges,\u00a04-year colleges, and universities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • The\u00a0<\/span>Virginia Zero Suicide Hub<\/span><\/b>\u00a0supports hospital, behavioral health, and community settings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Virginia Postvention Hub<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>supports s<\/span>uicide postvention<\/span>\u00a0statewide<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>An<\/span>\u00a0area of focus is K-12 schools.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Grow leaders within the hubs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      \u00a0<\/span>3. Improve and Expand Care:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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                          1. Support\u00a0access to high-quality\u00a0clinical care and care coordination.\u00a0This happens through:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
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                            1. Systems\u00a0level\u00a0change in\u00a0healthcare settings\u00a0using the Zero Suicide\u00a0framework,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                            2. Trainings\u00a0for healthcare providers, school staff, and community members.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                            3. Encouraging\u00a0screening and assessment\u00a0in\u00a0primary\u00a0care\u00a0and specialist care\u00a0settings,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                            4. Providing funding to 2 non-profit clinics to\u00a0strengthen\u00a0counseling, treatment, and follow-up care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              \u00a0<\/span>4. Support People and Communities After a Suicide Loss (Suicide Postvention): <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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                                  1. Provide\u00a0K-12 school staff and community members with training and\u00a0tools\u00a0needed to\u00a0prepare for and\u00a0respond to a loss.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                                  2. Support\u00a0those\u00a0who lost a loved one\u00a0with\u00a0grief\u00a0support groups and care coordination.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                    \u00a05. <\/span>Help\u00a0Key\u00a0Partners\u00a0Work Together:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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                                        1. Connect\u00a0key\u00a0partners, including those with lived experience\u00a0through the Suicide Prevention Interagency Advisory Group (SPIAG).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                                        2. Share and highlight\u00a0creative\u00a0strategies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                                        3. Come together\u00a0to build upon current work.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                          6. Use Data to Help Make Better Decisions:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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                                              1. Build skills of\u00a0VDH staff and\u00a0key partners to understand and use data to better serve communities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                                 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                                                If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis. Please contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. A trained operator can assist you 24\/7.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                Suicide Systems Project Vision:\u00a0 A Virginia\u202f\u200bwith\u00a0built environments\u202fthat foster connection,\u202fbelonging, and flourishing\u202fand\u202f\u200bwhere\u00a0suicide is as\u202fpreventable as possible.\u00a0 Goal:\u00a0 All Virginians will receive\u00a0clear, coordinated,\u00a0and\u00a0robust support when navigating suicide.\u00a0 Approach:\u00a0\u00a0 Our work calls for a\u00a0dynamic upstream approach to suicide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There\u00a0is\u00a0no single strategy to address suicide\u00a0because\u00a0suicide\u00a0is\u00a0not an isolated individual event.\u200b\u00a0 Many factors may contribute to suicide,\u00a0including the conditions where we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":636,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nOur Approach<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis: Please contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/suicide-prevention\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our Approach\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis: Please contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/suicide-prevention\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Suicide Prevention\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-18T20:29:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/\",\"name\":\"Our Approach\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-05-17T15:07:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-18T20:29:19+00:00\",\"description\":\"If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis: Please contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Our Approach\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\\\/suicide-prevention\\\/\",\"name\":\"Suicide Prevention\",\"description\":\"Virginia Department of Health - 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