Colorado national strategy for suicide prevention (CO-nssp) -- comprehensive suicide prevention strategies for colorado adults. - colorado national strategy for suicide prevention (CO-nssp) abstract…

Colorado national strategy for suicide prevention (CO-nssp) -- comprehensive suicide prevention strategies for colorado adults. - colorado national strategy for suicide prevention (CO-nssp) abstract this colorado national strategy for suicide prevention (CO-nssp) project will implement comprehensive state strategies for suicide prevention for colorado adults, with intensive efforts focused on 15 priority counties. CO-nssp core strategies include: (1) increasing statewide and local partnerships; (2) increasing coordination and expansion of the colorado-national collaborative (CNC) initiative's efforts on community connectedness, economic stability, and training efforts; (3) expansion of the lethal means safety gun shop project program; (4) counseling on access to lethal means (calm) and collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (cams) evidence-based provider trainings; and (5) expansion of the colorado follow-up project to more rural hospitals. CO-nssp will reach and support CO-nssp priority populations: older adults (ages 65+), lgbtq+ adults, adults in rural communities, black, indigenous, and people of color (bipoc), including american indian / alaska native (aian) adults. CO-nssp will achieve reductions in the state suicide death rate, as well as suicide-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, by implementing evidence-based practices and research- and lived experience-informed strategies and supporting infrastructure at the local level. The adult population in the priority counties largely make up the burden of suicidal despair, suicide attempts, and suicide deaths in colorado. 11 of the 15 priority counties are in geographical mental health professional shortage areas. In the priority counties, of adults 18+ who died by suicide between 2017-2021, 77.4% were male; 55.6% died by firearm; 21.6% had served in the armed forces; 18.5% were older adults age 65+; 1.2% were identified as aian only; 9.3% lived in rural counties; and 1.4% lived in frontier counties. CO-nssp will accomplish the following goals during the three-year project: goal 1: reduce the suicide death rate among colorado adults from 28.84 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2021 to 25.00 in 2026. Goal 2: reduce the suicide attempt hospitalizations rate among colorado adults from 49.09 per 100,000 residents in 2021 to 35.00 by 2026. Goal 3: reduce the suicide-related emergency department visits rate among colorado adults from 119.21 per 100,000 residents in 2021 to 85.00 by 2026. Measurable project objectives include: number of CNC county partnerships that support connectedness and economic stability; number of individuals trained in prevention/mental health promotion; number of people in the mental health and related workforce trained in mental health-related practices/activities and suicidality; number of outreach events to support lethal means safety; number of individuals referred to mental health or related services; number and percentage of individuals receiving services after referral. The colorado office of suicide prevention (OSP) is committed to ensuring project implementation is inclusive of identified priority populations, culturally relevant, addresses disparities, and is informed by data and lived experience. OSP will engage in continuous quality improvement to ensure project activities are aligned with the goals of this project and not resulting in unnecessary, unintended harm.