Additional Suicide Prevention Work

Peer-to-Peer School Based Suicide Prevention Grants

The funding period for the 2023-24 school year has closed

Details for the next cycle will be updated here in late summer 2024

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 4th 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 staff and/or students, travel, materials and supplies (no more than 20% of the total request), and presenter or speaker fees (no more than 25% of the total request). Costs can not be used towards food, assemblies, and please refer to this document for other unallowable costs. .

The application window closes on December 15th, 2023. 

To Apply:

• Please complete the application via Survey Monkey here
   
  • 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 Cara Hansen at cara@mhawisconsin.org. 

Prevention Resources for Educators

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

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.

Suicide in Wisconsin: Impact & Response (2020)

Suicide in Wisconsin: Impact and Response seeks to help inform efforts through a two-part report. By first presenting in-depth data, stakeholders will gain insight about the people and populations in Wisconsin who experience self-harm injuries, as well as suicidal thoughts, behaviors, deaths, and associated risk factors. The report then presents the Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Plan, a comprehensive approach to reduce suicide attempts and deaths. Suicide in Wisconsin: Impact and Response updates two previous reports, The Burden of Suicide (2014) and the Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Strategy (2015).

The Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Plan was produced in collaboration with the Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Steering Committee. Prevent Suicide Wisconsin is a statewide public-private partnership that was formed over a decade ago when stakeholders identified the need to create an umbrella organization for suicide prevention efforts in Wisconsin.

Access the Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Plan here >

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, Suicide Prevention Specialist, 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, Suicide Prevention Specialist (kelsey@mhawisconsin.org)