A Year in Review: CFS Efforts Help Increase Florida’s Suicide Prevention Activities
Over two thousand of Florida’s citizens annually take their lives. This is more than twice the number of people murdered and two-thirds the number killed in highway accidents. In 2005, Florida ranked 3rd highest in the nation for number of suicide fatalities.
For decades, in Florida and the nation as a whole, suicide has occurred at a depressingly constant rate. Although experts agree death from suicide is among the most preventable of tragedies, suicide remains among the least recognized social problems, with little public discussion of its scope and methods of prevention.
Since July 2007, staff from the Florida Suicide Prevention Implementation Program (FSPIP), housed at the USF Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute’s Department of Child & Family Studies, have collaborated with the Florida Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention and the Florida Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council to enhance Florida’s capacity to initiate, implement, and sustain suicide prevention activities.
Project Director Stephen Roggenbaum and Co-director Robert Paulson oversee the coordination and direction of the Florida Suicide Prevention Implementation Program. Much has been accomplished in the past year. Below are brief descriptions of activities with links to additional information.
Suicide Stops Here
The Suicide Stops Here site, developed for schools, agencies, businesses, health providers, faith-based organizations, and community coalitions serves as a resource to provide:
- A menu of suicide prevention activities
- A flexible, end-to-end implementation process that includes community mobilization
- Ideas for initiating and energizing suicide prevention efforts
- Resources to assist at each step of the implementation process
- Links to web resources
Take Action Brochure
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FSPIP staff worked with Florida Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council and members of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition and brainstormed 125 ideas for moving the Florida Suicide Prevention Strategy into ongoing community action. A Take Action brochure was created in easy-to-read format to share highlights from these ideas, including specific recommendations for individuals and various groups. 13,000 copies were printed and are being distributed to individuals, organizations and special meetings/conferences throughout the state. Questions regarding the brochure can be directed to Steve Roggenbaum.
Education & Training Programs
FSPIP staff have been involved in a number of training and education programs offered to raise awareness and disseminate information about the risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide. Most recently planned include:
- Booth display and distribution of new brochures at the 2008 Suicide Prevention Day at Capitol
- On June 24 & 25, the FSPIP, in collaboration with Florida's Office of Suicide Prevention and the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is hosting a two-day training in Tampa offered to 40 clinicians and mental health professionals to become more prepared to meet the needs of distressed clients and their families. The training, Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians (RRSR), is based on 24 established core competencies that mental health professionals need in order to effectively assess and manage suicide risk. The RRSR includes a web-based assessment; two on-line, self-paced modules; a two-day face-to-face workshop; and post-workshop mentorship through on-line learning activities.
Well Aware Bulletin
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The FSPIP serves as a co-funder for the Well Aware Bulletin, a suicide prevention policy bulletin delivered four times each academic year to school administrators and leaders throughout Florida.
"We have an outstanding, collaborative team at CFS. I hope that our efforts can help to increase awareness of the issue of suicide, Florida’s strategy, and action steps that individuals and others can implement. Our ultimate goal is that those at risk can be identified and reached, thus lives can be saved," said Roggenbaum.
Related Suicide Prevention Activities
In addition to FSPIP, Roggenbaum is also involved in a number of suicide prevention efforts, including:
Evaluation of the BETH (Become Educated to Help) Program
With support provided by the BETH Foundation, Inc., a team led by Roggenbaum evaluated the BETH Public Awareness Campaign. The campaign, aimed at increasing awareness of suicide as a public health and mental health issue, was implemented in two pilot communities of Alachua and Pasco Counties. The evaluation investigated the impact of the campaign through the number of calls to 1-800-273-TALK and the proportion of calls related to suicide.
Roggenbaum has also been involved in the evalution of the Florida Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, which establishes a network of individuals or "Gatekeepers," including teachers, school nurses, school personnel, police officers, mental health care providers, and emergency health care personnel trained to recognize, respond appropriately and refer people for help. The evaluation analyzed behavioral change subsequent to the Gatekeeper Training.
State Council Appointment
Roggenbaum was appointed August 2007 by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council.
Planning Commission
Roggenbaum is serving on the Planning Commission for the 2008 Suicide Prevention Symposium. He also served on the 2007 planning commission.
Web Cast for Florida's Child Welfare Professionals
In July 2008, Roggenbaum will be presenting about suicide prevention in the child welfare arena via a webcast for Florida’s Center for the Advancement of Child Welfare Practice Web Portal. Funded by the Department of Children and Families. The Center facilitates the distribution of relevant, accurate and consistent information that is easily accessible for Florida's child welfare professionals.
Contibutor to School Suicide Prevention Accreditation Program
Roggenbaum was one of eight members invited to contribute to preparation materials for the American Association of Suicidology/School Suicide Prevention Accreditation Program. The program helps prepare school psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, and all others dedicated to or responsible for reducing the incidence of suicide and suicidal behaviors among today's school-age youth to be adequately prepared to intervene when necessary.
International Collaboration
During November 2007, a psychiatric nurse from Taiwan visited FMHI and the Tampa Bay area to learn about suicide prevention in America. Steve Roggenbaum acted as her academic host, facilitated her attendance at the Florida Suicide Prevention Symposium, and arranged for her to visit with a number of individuals and programs to learn more about suicide prevention in the US. Some of the connections included: Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, MHC mobile crisis program, the children’s crisis stabilization unit, Pasco Aware - a local suicide prevention task force, the Florida Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council, the Office of Suicide Prevention, a local Yellow Ribbon chapter, local survivor (of son’s death by suicide), Alachua County’s Crisis Center director, and Dr. Donna Cohen.
The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.