Grant Spotlight: Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition

Organization Name: Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition

Mission: The mission of the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition (NSSPC) is to increase awareness, decrease stigma, and implement programs throughout Nebraska aimed at suicide prevention. The NSSPC is a voluntary group made up of committed and passionate people representing public and private agencies, suicide survivors and Nebraskans interested in suicide prevention

Funded Program Description: Founded in 1999, the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition (NSSPC) is a dedicated non-profit, volunteer organization committed to improving suicide prevention across Nebraska. NSSPC is comprised of passionate individuals and representatives from both the public and private sectors, including suicide survivors and those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

On March 27, 2024, the coalition, in partnership with key stakeholders, hosted the 2024 Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Summit. The Summit aimed to bring together experts, advocates, and community members to learn, discuss, and address critical issues surrounding suicide prevention in Nebraska. This important event sought to gather 75-100 key stakeholders from across the state, leveraging their expertise and commitment to pave the way for advancing suicide prevention efforts in Nebraska over the next four years. The summit provided a platform for collaborative development of a comprehensive action plan with all major suicide prevention partners, ensuring alignment with the goals outlined within the Nebraska Statewide Suicide Prevention Plan.

Successes of Program or Inspirational Stories: The 2024 Nebraska Suicide Prevention Summit was held on March 27, 2024, in Kearney, NE, bringing together 85 in-person attendees from across Nebraska, including experts and practitioners in suicide prevention, as well as community members with lived experience.

The Summit kicked off with presentations from four distinguished leaders in suicide prevention in Nebraska:

• Dr. Ming Qu from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shared powerful insights from his work, which utilized multiple data sources to examine trends and disparities in suicide across Nebraska from 2017 to 2022.
• Dr. Ryan Carruthers of CenterPointe delivered a compelling presentation on the implementation of the Zero Suicide framework at CenterPointe, offering an agency-level perspective enriched by lived experience.
• To close the presentations, Kyle Kinney of Boys Town and Michelle Nunnemaker from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provided an engaging overview of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline initiative in Nebraska, detailing its foundations, collaborations, partnerships, and future potential.

During lunch, attendees participated in a networking event that featured display tables hosted by representatives from nineteen different suicide prevention and mental health organizations, serving as conversation starters. This setup allowed participants to learn about various ongoing initiatives across Nebraska, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The Summit concluded with three themed breakout sessions, where participants engaged in in-depth discussions:

1. Prevention strategies,
2. Populations of concern, and
3. Systemic issues and ways to improve suicide prevention efforts across Nebraska’s systems.

Trained facilitators guided these discussions, capturing valuable insights and information shared by attendees.

A comprehensive Summit report, including recommendations and a call to action for Nebraska’s systems, organizations, and community members to enhance suicide prevention, postvention, and mental health awareness, will be released in September 2024, coinciding with National Suicide Prevention Month.

Other Comments: As the NSSPC celebrates its 25th anniversary this September, we are proud to express our gratitude to the Kim Foundation for their continued support and partnership. Our shared commitment to advancing mental health and suicide prevention through various initiatives has been instrumental in enhancing our efforts in these critical areas. Thank you for being an invaluable partner in our mission!

We also extend a special thank you to all Nebraskans who continue to emphasize that suicide prevention and mental health awareness begin with each of us!

Contact Information:

Quinn Lewandowski, President
suicideprevention.nebraska@gmail.com
www.nsspc.org