January

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

-Lao Tzu, Philosopher and Author

Announcements

Holiday Stress Webinar

On December 12, the Behavioral Health Administration's Office of Suicide Prevention partnered with the University of Maryland Extension to host a Holiday Stress Webinar with speaker, Alexander Chan, Ph.D. Dr. Chan discussed grief management during the holiday season and self-care tips for combatting holiday stress.

Celebrate Mental Wellness Month

Research shows that regular exercise increases energy and improves mental wellness. Celebrate Mental Wellness Month by participating in First Day Hikes on January 1st at any of Maryland's State Parks.

Learn more tips on improving mental wellness.

Have you visited any of the 75 Maryland State Parks?

Yes

Training

Save The Date! The Trevor Project Ally/CARE Training:

The Behavioral Health Administration's Office of Suicide Prevention has upcoming free Ally and CARE trainings on supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

The CARE Training creates a dialogue about being an adult ally for LGBTQ+ youth and informs about common terminology. Attend The Trevor Project CARE Training on Thursday, February 1 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (Virtual):

The Center for Deployment Psychology is hosting multiple, two-day courses in the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP). This module aims to provide in the assessment and treatment of suicidal ideation and behavior. Course registration is $45 and comes with 14 CEs.

January 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Learn More

January 23 and 14 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Learn More

Events

Seasonal Depression: What You Need to Know:

Attend an in-person discussion about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) from psychiatrist, Desmond Kaplan. Learn about coping skills, symptoms, and helping others cope with SAD on Wednesday, January 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore.

The Link Between Social Media & Mental Health:

Join the McLean Hospital for a webinar about social media and its impact on mental health. Hear from the presenter, Lisa Coyne, Ph.D. on Wednesday, January 17 at noon.

The Connection Between Quality of Life and Mental Health in the Black Community:

Join the Central East Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network for their webinar presented by Cynthia Turner-Graham, MD, DFAPA. Learn how to describe the sciences that connects quality of life to mental health status and effective evidence-based interventions on Thursday, January 18 at noon.

Maryland's Commitment to Veterans (MCV): Innovations in Suicide Risk Screening Assessment and Treatment:

Attend Maryland's Commitment to Veterans' (MCV) webinar presented by Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP. Join in a discussion of core assumptions about suicide risk screening, treatment, and assessment on Thursday, January 18 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Maryland's Coalition of Families' (MCF) Annual Family Day in Annapolis:

Join Maryland's Coalition of Families for their free, in-person annual Family Day on Thursday, January 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00pm. at The Governor Calvert House. This event aims to lift the voices of loved-ones with a mental health, substance use or problem gambling disorder. MCF is providing transportation to and from Annapolis.

Learn More

Annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Network Annual Summit:

Join Washington County's Suicide Prevention Workgroup for their in-person summit on Friday, January 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Tobias Family Center in Hagerstown, MD.

Learn More

Governor's Commission on Suicide Prevention:

The Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention will be held virtually on January 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and are live-streamed from Maryland's Commission on Suicide Prevention's Facebook page.

Building a Healthier Maryland Survey:

Help us build a healthier Maryland by taking our quick survey about your top health priorities. Those who are 18+ and live in Maryland are encouraged to respond. Take the survey: http://bit.ly/HealthierMD23

Grant Opportunities

Visit: nih .gov to locate grant funding opportunities.

Systems-Level Risk Detection and Interventions to Reduce Suicide, Ideation, and Behaviors in Youth from Underserved Population:

R01- Research Project Grant:

This initiative supports research to test the effectiveness of combined strategies to both detect and intervene to reduce the risk of suicide, suicide ideation and behavior (SIB), and/ or non-suicidal self-harm (NSSI) specifically among children, adolescents, and transition-age youth/ young adults from underserved populations. There's no funding limit for up to 5 years. Applications open on January 20, 2024 and close on February 20, 2024.

Learn More

R34- Planning Grant:

This initiative supports pilot work for subsequent research to test the effectiveness of combined interventions to both detect and intervene to reduce risk of suicide and suicide ideation and behavior (SIB), and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) specifically among children, adolescents, and transition-age youth/young adults from underserved populations. Applications should focus on developmental work that would enhance the probability of success in subsequent larger scale R01 projects. Funding is for up to $450,000 total for up to a 3-year project. Applications open on January 20, 2024 and close on February 20, 2024.

Learn More

Visit: SAMSHA to locate grant funding opportunities.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Tribal Behavioral Health Grant:

This grant is intended to prevent and reduce suicidal behavior and substance abuse and misuse, decrease the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) youth up to and including age 24, by building a health network of services, systems, and partnership that impact youth. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be open for three fiscal years. Funding is up for $250,000 for up to 5 years. Applications for the 2024 Fiscal Year are due by May 15, 2024.

Learn More

Approaches to Data and Best Practices

Did You Know?

1 in 2 over the age of 60 are at risk of social isolation Read More.

As many as 1 in 3 community-dwelling older adults experience loneliness Read More .

Rates around loneliness among older adults are two times higher in long-term care settings than in community settings Read More.

In 2021, among adults age 55 and older, the highest rates of suicide were for men age 85 and older (55.7 deaths per 100,000 population) and women ages 55–64 (7.8). Read More

The largest percent increase in suicide rates between 2001 and 2021 occurred among men ages 55–64 and among women ages 65–74 Read More.

Firearm-related suicide was the leading mechanism of suicide for men age 55 and older across all age groups in 2021 Read More.

2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conducts the largest national analysis of Veteran death by suicide each year. This report provides new information about deaths by suicide among Veterans and non-Veteran adults from 2001 to 2021.

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System

(YRBSS):

The YRBSS was developed in 1990 to monitor health behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. These behaviors, often established during childhood and early adolescence.

Read Report

The Trevor Project 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Maryland:

The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, produces innovative original research that amplifies the experiences of diverse LGBTQ young people and brings new knowledge and clinical implications to the suicide prevention field.

Read Report

Rural Suicide Prevention Toolkit - Rural Health Information Hub

The toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing suicide prevention programs in rural communities across the United States. The modules in the toolkit contain resources and information focused on developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining rural suicide prevention programs.

Trainings and Resources

*New* Live For Thomas: 'What's Your S.T.R.O.N.G?' Campaign:

Live For Thomas released their first social media clip for their "What's Your S.T.R.O.N.G?" Campaign. This campaign seeks to change the narrative of what it means to be "strong" and challenge the stigma of being perceived as "weak" for asking for help or showing emotion.

Maryland Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics' (MDAPP) Teen Suicide Prevention Videos

MDAAP has released two Teen Suicide Prevention Videos. For our parents and caregivers, watch Teen to Parent Suicide Prevention. For our teenagers, watch Teen to Teen Suicide Prevention.

Hope: A Guide for Faith Leaders to Help Prevent Youth Suicide:

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), and the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships have released Hope: A Guide for Faith Leaders to Help Prevent Youth Suicide. This guide is intended to support faith leaders in identifying and helping youth at risk of suicide.

Read Here

Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGTBTQIA2S+ Youth: A Resource Guide for Professionals, Families, and Communities:

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center, in partnership with the NORC at the University of Chicago, has released a resource guide intended to help professionals, families, and communities support the mental well-being of the LGTBQIA2S youth.

Read Here

Problem Gambling Clinical Webinar Series: We invite you to join the University of Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling for free webinars designed to provide additional problem gambling prevention, clinical and recovery training on a variety of topics. Webinars are an hour in length, 12 to 1pm EDT and award one CEU (unless otherwise specified) Register

Voices of Gambling Recovery:

Watch Voices of Gambling Recovery to understand more about recovery from Gambling Disorder from persons with lived experience.

Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPO): A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out: ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. In this Teach-Out, a team of public health, policy, and medical experts will each provide a unique perspective to the ERPO laws and how they work and more .

Behavioral Health Administration’s Online Training Portal:

Hosted by the Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration, this portal provides online training in the area of behavioral health. This portal offers a self-paced opportunity for behavioral health professionals, peers, and family members to engage in and learn about various topics, such as substance-related disorders; mental health; suicide prevention; children, adolescents, older adults, and clinical interventions; and cultural and linguistic competency. Registration also allows you to earn continuing education credit.

Explore Online Training.

Maryland CEU Institute offers workshops each month. Learn more and register for all events here: Live Webinars | Maryland CEU

Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM):

CALM is a free, self-paced, award-winning online course for healthcare and social services providers. Counseling on Access to Lethal Means can help you feel prepared to talk with people about means safety. Reducing access to lethal means, such as firearms and medication, can determine whether a person at risk for suicide lives or dies.

Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP) Program:

The Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP) Program is an essential part of Maryland's plan to end suicide in our service members, veterans, and their families. This curriculum is free for Maryland-based nurses, doctors and all primary care staff interested in learning more about military culture, crisis response planning and suicide prevention strategies, and lethal means safety protocols focused on service members, veterans and their families (SMVF). Enroll now.

University of Maryland Online Training Platform: for Maryland behavioral health professionals. Register for any of the courses below to receive access to implementation training videos, downloadable materials, tips from providers who have already implemented the interventions, and expert advice on a variety of topics related to implementation and fidelity. Ask questions of the intervention developers, share your own tips and experiences, and discuss areas of interest with fellow intervention providers. Registration also allows you to earn continuing education unit (CEU) credit. University of Maryland Training Platform

Connecting to Hope Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 2023 Toolkit:

Deepest gratitude to those who shared the Connecting To Hope Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 2023 Toolkit. This toolkit contains a calendar of events, data, information on lethal means and safety planning, information about training, suicide prevention resources, and social media shareables.

Read Here

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

Marylanders who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis should call or text 988. Learn more at 988 .maryland .gov and access free community outreach materials in our 988 Toolkit. Maryland veterans and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1 to transfer to the Veterans Crisis Line. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for LGBTQIA+ support.

About Us

Maryland Department of Health’s Office of Suicide Prevention provides suicide prevention training, resources, and technical assistance to advance the development of comprehensive suicide prevention and early intervention service system for individuals, families, groups, and communities.