The Implementation of Zero Suicide in Health Systems, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2020, supports safer suicide care in behavioral health and healthcare systems. Zero Suicide is a model and framework that believes suicide deaths for individuals under the care of health and behavioral health systems are preventable.

For systems dedicated to improving patient safety, Zero Suicide presents a framework for systemwide transformation toward safer suicide care. This work will involve key partners across the state, including Veterans Affairs and the 26 licensed Community Mental Health Care Systems that have more than 4,500 staff supplying mental health services in every county (120 plus locations) to more than 140,000 Kansans annually.

Besides the policies, protocols and practices the Zero Suicide model supports, objectives include supplying evidence-based trainings and practices to support a prepared, competent and confident mental health workforce and coordinated suicide prevention efforts across the state.

The State Suicide Prevention Plan is now available on the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services website.