Additional Suicide Prevention Work

Peer-to-Peer School Based Suicide Prevention Grants

Applications OPEN for the 2026-2027 school year!

Application Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026

Mental Health America of Wisconsin is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for elementary, middle, and high schools in Wisconsin. This opportunity is in addition to the 5th Annual Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Grant Competition through the Department of Public Instruction. With a focus on training Wisconsin students to recognize the signs of suicide shown by fellow students, peer-to-peer programs use messages of hope, health, and strength to develop peer leaders and resources for students who may be struggling.

Recipients of a grant under this program may use the grant funds to support an existing evidence-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program (Hope Squad, Sources of Strength, NAMI Raise Your Voice, REDGEN, or Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM)) or implement a new peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. For schools wanting to implement new programs please provide evidence that is linked to the program's effectiveness.

The amount of each individual grant award may not exceed $5,000. Allowable costs include:

• Training fees for staff and/or students
• Substitute teacher fees are allowed, but NOT staff time for staff becoming trained in peer-to-peer programs
• Curriculum costs related to the peer-to-peer program
• Transportation costs associated with peer-to-peer training or activities
• QPR training costs
• Materials and supplies (limit $1,000)
  • "Apparel" is considered materials and supplies. It includes uniforms used to identify peer program leaders. Apparel used for promotional giveaways is NOT allowed.
  • Some examples of allowable supplies: Art supplies used for program activities, gift cards for students as prizes, fidget toys used in program activities
• Speaker or presenter fees (limit $1,250)

Costs can not be used towards food, assemblies, and please refer to this document for other unallowable costs. .

Grant funds will be reimbursed to schools after the end of the 2026-2027 school year when all the required documentation is sent to MHA-WI (W-9, invoice, and receipts) by June 30, 2027. NO funds will be sent to schools until financial documentation is reviewed and approved after June 30, 2027. Grant reporting requirements include four quarterly surveys and one year-end survey to be filled out by the project lead.

Note: Please keep in mind when you are planning your peer-to-peer programming and completing the application that this is the last year that MHA-WI can provide these grants to schools. So applicants should be thinking about sustainability to continue providing your school's peer-to-peer program after the 2026-2027 school year.
 

To Apply:

• Please complete the application via Survey Monkey HERE
• Application PDF Version
   
  • You must complete the survey at one sitting; you will not be allowed to save and return to it. Respondents will be able to go back to previous pages in the survey and update existing responses until the survey is finished or until they have exited the survey. However, after submitting or exiting the survey, the respondent will not be able to update existing responses. Therefore we recommend downloading the PDF version and compiling all your responses before entering the survey.
  • This application is for one school; if someone is applying for multiple schools, a new application must be completed for each school.
  • You will receive a PDF copy of your responses via email within a week of submission. You may receive follow up questions about the proposed program and community partners before notice of your acceptance. 
  • You will receive grant funding notification within 30 days of confirmation of your application submission.
  • Click here for more Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you have any questions, please email Kelsey Van Hoorn at kelsey@mhawisconsin.org

Prevention Resources for Educators

Classroom Curriculum for Youth Suicide Prevention by the Dept. Of Public Instruction  

SPRC: K-12 Suicide Intervention Guide: Identifying Students at Risk and Responding to Crisis

Prevention Resources for Youth 

Oregon Youth Line is a teen-to-teen crisis and mental health support line. Based out of Oregon but youth living any where can use it! Available by call, text, email, and chat.  

The Prism Program warmline for LGBTQ+ youth. Call or text 414-336-7974. Open 7 days a week from 10am-10pm.

Seize the Awkward campaign on the importance of talking to friends about mental health and/or suicide. Features tips on how to handle awkward conversations with friends. 

For more resources related to youth mental health, see MHA National.

Wisconsin's Suicide Prevention Plan: Strategies for Action and Hope (2025)

Click here to access the full plan >>>>

Suicide remains a significant public health concern in Wisconsin. From 2014-2023, suicide rates in Wisconsin increased by about 15%. Behind every statistic on suicide death is a tremendous loss, with profound impact on individuals, families, and communities that cannot be adequately quantified or described in words. The work of Prevent Suicide Wisconsin, MHA, and our many partners throughout the years is fueled by our love for those we have lost, and our commitment to generating hope through action. Wisconsin’s Suicide Prevention Plan is designed to increase the effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts by providing statewide data along with best practices, resources, and recommended action steps for those who share this same commitment. 

Wisconsin data shows that suicide rates are higher in rural counties compared to urban areas, and males accounted for almost 80% of all Wisconsin suicides in 2023. Suicide rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian residents compared to all other racial groups and the average overall state rate. While suicide continues to impact people across the lifespan, the rates were highest among those aged 45-54 years old. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10-19. Girls ages 15-17 had the highest emergency department visits and hospitalizations for self-harm. The profound loss behind each suicide cannot be adequately quantified or described in words. Still, this data can help the field strategize programming and resources to reach at-risk groups and prevent suicide.  

The strategies for prevention put forth by the plan are organized into three tiers:  

• Tier 1: Community-Based Prevention: Promoting mental health, suicide prevention, and postvention in the places where we live, work, study, worship, and age, outside of formal care services. 
• Tier 2: Prevention and Intervention Across the Continuum of Care: Improve suicide care and support throughout the range of services in health and behavioral health systems. 
• Tier 3: Data Collection and Program Evaluation: Build capacity in local and state partners to improve data on suicide in our state. Promote program evaluation to build collective understanding of the most impactful interventions to increase protective factors, reduce risk factors, and prevent suicide. 

Click here to download a one page summary of the plan >>>>

Click here to access the full plan >>>>

Support School-Based Suicide Prevention

• Provide funding for school-based suicide prevention.
  • Signs of Suicide kits
  • Sources of Strength
  • Hope Squad
  • Provide grants to help implement behavioral health screenings to identify and intervene with students at risk.

See Youth Suicide Prevention: Student Programs here>>

Require Suicide Prevention Training

• 27 states, plus DC, require training for school personnel.
• 9 states require training for health professionals.

See Wisconsin Laws Addressing Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention here>>

See State Laws: Training for Health Professionals in Suicide Assessment, Treatment, and Management here>>

Reduce Access to Lethal Means

• Funds to purchase/disseminate gun locks or other safe storage equipment
• Lethal violence protection order (14 states)
• Background checks and waiting periods for handgun purchases

Increase the Mental Health Workforce

• Increase loan repayment programs.
• Support integration of behavioral health providers into primary care.

See National Projections of Supply and Demand for Selected Behavioral Health Practitioners here>>

Support Local Coalitions

• Provide grants for coalitions/local health departments to increase public awareness and implement local programs.
• Provide funds to support administration of grant programs, if authorized, or to provide additional technical assistance to counties, coalitions, or provider agencies.

See a directory of Wisconsin's county suicide prevention coalitions here>>

Prioritize Populations at Risk

• Provide funds for populations at disproportionate risk of suicide; e.g. Military/Veterans, LGBTQ+ youth, Men in the Middle Years, Native or AI/AN communities .

See the Suicide Prevention Resource Center's page on Populations here>>

Zero Suicide Training: Mental Health America of Wisconsin, with support through a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Division of Care and Treatment Services, hosts an annual Wisconsin Zero Suicide Training (WZST) and subsequent learning community for healthcare and behavioral health systems to provide suicide safer care through quality improvement.

To learn more about the Zero Suicide framework, click here. Please direct WZST related questions to Kelsey Van Hoorn, Zero Suicide Coordinator, at kelsey@mhawisconsin.org.

Clinical Suicide Care Trainings: In collaboration with the Behavioral Health Training Partnership we are pleased to offer suicide care trainings for mental health professionals and health care providers supporting individuals who may be at risk of suicide. These unique training opportunities are made possible through grant funding from the Department of Health Services to promote best practice and evidence-based techniques in recognizing, assessing and managing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Interested participants must be practicing in Wisconsin. Click here to learn more and register for upcoming trainings! 

Annual Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference: Mental Health America of Wisconsin, with support through a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Division of Care and Treatment Services, hosts the annual Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference. This conference is for clinical providers, social workers, educators, peer specialists, crisis responders, clergy, and anyone with an interest in suicide prevention to come together to gain skills and perspectives on suicide and prevention. Click here to read more about the conference.  

Suicide Prevention: What’s Happening in Wisconsin? Presentation: MHA-WI can provide presentations related to suicide prevention in Wisconsin, including data from the state plan and strategies for prevention. If you are interested in bringing this content to your classroom, workplace, or coalition, please contact Erica Steib, State Suicide Prevention Program Manager (erica@Mhawisconsin.org). 

Other trainings related to suicide: There are many trainings related to suicide prevention meant to fit different audiences and experience levels. Please see this Training Menu page on the PSW website to learn more about recommended trainings. Note: While MHA-WI is not equipped to provide all these training courses, the menu includes links to inquire about bringing training to your area.  

Erica Steib, State Suicide Prevention Program Manager (erica@Mhawisconsin.org)  

Kelsey Van Hoorn, Zero Suicide Program Manager (kelsey@mhawisconsin.org)  

2026 Wisconsin Zero Suicide Training

Applications are closed and the applications for 2027 will be available for organizations in Spring 2027