Kentucky strategic suicide prevention project (KYSSPP) - western kentucky represents about 27 percent of the states population but 29 precent of the states suicide deaths

Veterans represent about 6 precent of kentucky's population but about 14 precent of suicide rates in the state. Kentucky's serve gaps include access to mental health services in rural areas along with the ability to reach socially isolated males over the age of 60. Improvements need to be made in the infrastructure to address any perceived stigma in seeking mental health services in the geographic catchment area, including a public awareness campaign geared toward suicide risk in the population of focus. There also needs to be a strong effort to build partnerships to work across state and/or community agencies and systems to integrate suicide prevention efforts in a sustainable manner through the creation of a regional task force. This collaboration with community partners and volunteers will increase awareness and promote lethal means safety awareness and promotion to reduce access to firearms and other lethal means of suicide, including opioids, as well as other medications, and alcohol. Training and workshop development activities on recognizing risks in the population of focus will be included to improve success of these intervention efforts. Incorporating a comprehensive suicide care management plan among local emergency departments and mental health facilities will facilitate a rapid follow-up process for adults who have attempted suicide. Kentucky has seen an increase in suicide rates for white males aged 60 and older, who are retired. And/or farmers and veterans, own guns, and live in rural areas of the state. Data indicates men in this age category are dying from suicide at a higher rate than other residents. Between 2016- 2021, there were 857 suicides among residents aged 65 and older with white males comprising 745 or more than 86 % according to the CDC nearly two thirds of all suicides in kentucky are by firearm. Kentucky's firearm suicide rate is consistently higher than the overall united staes rate. In 2019 kentucky had the 23RD highest firearm suicide rate in the country with most suicide decedents being white males. This grant will focus on the western part of rural kentucky's most at risk senior male populations for death by suicide as well as their families and/or community support systems, and the agencies that serve them; hereafter referred to as the population of focus. This specific population of focus is typically the most likely to suffer from social isolation but the least likely to seek help. Data shows white males ages 65 and older have not utilized a state suicide prevention texting hotline unlike those younger than age 65.3 more support infrastructure needs to be developed in this geographic catchment area to reduce any perceived stigma in seeking help for mental health needs and services for this population of focus. Initial implementation will occur in the geographic catchment area of the pennyrile area of kentucky, which includes the counties of caldwell, christian, crittenden, hopkins, livingston, lyon, muhlenberg, todd, and trigg, which are rural areas with high rates of suicides in this population of focus.