Missouri
Missouri suicide prevention plans and initiatives
Missouri’s suicide prevention activities are housed within the state’s Department of Mental Health, Division of Behavioral Health (DMH/DBH), which has led several suicide prevention initiatives with funding from federal Zero Suicide grants first provided in 2014. In 2018, the Missouri Suicide Prevention Network (MSPN), a group consisting of representatives from various organizations and interests across the state, was created to lead statewide suicide prevention efforts and coordinate implementation of the state plan, and in 2020, the MSPN received funding from the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) for two full-time positions dedicated to statewide suicide prevention.
Most recently, in partnership with the Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare and DMH, the MSPN released the 2021-2024 Missouri Suicide Prevention Plan which guides Missouri in utilizing three main strategies: fully embrace a public health approach, establish Missouri as a Zero Suicide in Healthcare state, and establish a robust data collection and reporting system.