November

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

-Melody Beattie, American Author

Announcements

Reflecting on September & October

"Together We Care" Summit

On September 28, the Behavioral Health Administration's Office of Suicide Prevention received an outstanding turnout at their 1st annual “Together We Care” Summit in PG County. Linda Diaz, who is the founder of Lauryn’s Law and mother of Lauryn, set the tone for the summit as our keynote speaker. Linda also served on a panel among suicide loss survivors, Dr. Amy Ocasio and T-Kea Blackman. There was an opportunity to choose among three different breakout rooms on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. The summit ended with an interactive resource exchange. Stay tuned next September for the next "Together We Care" Summit.

35th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference

Thank you to the 491 people who connected to hope at the Behavioral Health Administration's Office of Suicide Prevention's 35th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference on October 4th. Dr. Richard Tedeschi, the co-founder of Post Traumatic Growth, was the keynote for the conference. We then learned how to further develop hope with Dr. H’Sien Hayward. There was an opportunity to attend breakout sessions from speakers: Felipe Millian, Roni White, Dr. Shivana Naidoo, Dr. Kanako Taku and Mercia Cummings. The day was successfully concluded with an inspiring call to action and discussion about suicidality from Dr. Stacey Freedenthal. 

Connecting To Hope Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Toolkit


Suicide Prevention Awareness Month has passed but suicide prevention continues throughout the year. 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.

Office of Suicide Prevention Job Openings:


Interested in working in community engagement and suicide prevention? The Behavioral Health Administration's Office of Suicide Prevention is currently accepting applications for a full-time contractual position.


Apply to the Community Engagement and Service Coordinator Position. Applications close on November 6.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

The Native American LifeLines work in Baltimore and Boston, MA promoting health and resiliency in Urban American Indian Communities.

Learn More.

Training

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 Ally Training creates dialogue about being an adult ally for LGBTQ+ youth and informs about common terminology. Attend The Trevor Project Ally Training on November 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Register Here.



Allegany County is hosting virtual Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid training on November 30 and December 1 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., November 16 and 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and December 14 and 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn More.



Mental Health First Aid Trainings for Agencies: The University of Maryland is currently looking to partner with organizations in Maryland to offer no-cost Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainings to your agency. These trainings could be virtual or in-person and consist of 2 hours self-paced, virtual pre-work which must be completed prior to live instruction. Live instruction typically goes from 9am-3pm.

Link to the interest form.

Events

Honoring Veterans Day on November 12

Aging & Human Services Veterans Resource Day Event:

Join Carroll County Bureau of Aging and Disabilities in celebrating their 10th Anniversary on Friday, November 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in California, MD.

Learn More.


City of Brunswick Annual Veterans Day Parade:

Celebrate Veterans Day on Sunday, November 5 from 1 p.m. in Downtown Brunswick.

Learn More.


Disabled Veterans National Foundation Veterans Resource Fair:

Attend the Veterans Resource Fair on Wednesday, November 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Silver Spring, MD.

Learn More.


Virtual Veterans Day Symposium:

Join the Department of Veterans Affairs and Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) virtually on Tuesday, November 9 from 1-3 p.m. on Veterans Affairs Webex.

View Webex.


Howard County Veterans Day Parade & Celebration:

Attend the Veterans Day parade and celebration on Sunday, November 12 from 9:30 a.m. in Downtown Columbia.

Learn More.


Baltimore County Veterans Day Celebration & Resource Event:

Join the Commission on Veterans' Affairs for a Baltimore County Veterans Day Celebration and Resource Event on Sunday, November 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Towson University Union.

Learn More.


Native American Veterans Virtual Outreach Symposium:

Gain information and resources at this virtual outreach symposium hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday, November 15 from 1-3 p.m.

Learn More.

First Friday: Vetworking: Brunch and Business Card Exchange:

Attention Black Veterans, Service Members and Family members! Join Uplift Financial Consulting for this connection event on Friday, November 3 at Jam Eateries in Ellicott City.

Learn More.



Out of the Darkness Walk:

Join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for an Out of The Darkness Walk on Saturday, November 4 from 8 a.m. in Havre de Grace, MD.

Learn More.


Soul Shop for Communities:

Soul Shop is offering a 2-hour training for communities including those in the faith-based community. Attend this training aimed to heighten the awareness of the harms in suicide and examine the steps that can be taken to decrease the risk on Tuesday, November 7 from 6-8 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Oxon Hill, MD.

Learn More.


Soul Shop for Black Churches:

Soul Shop is offering an in-person workshop intended for clergy, staff, lay pastors, and faith-based clinicians in the Black Church. Attend this workshop aimed to strengthen leaders who stand on the front-lines of the mental health crisis to minister to those impacted by the faces of struggle and trauma regarding suicide on Wednesday, November 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Oxon Hill. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Learn More.


Communities Partner Brunch Over Blues:

NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore invites community leaders in West Baltimore to a free brunch regarding supporting the community's mental health on Thursday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Baltimore, MD.

Register Here.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, encourages survivors of suicide loss to come together to seek connection, hope, and understanding. This year, suicide survivors are invited to join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on November 18 for events throughout Maryland.


Belair International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day


Berlin International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day


Bethesda International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day


Frederick International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day


Hagerstown International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

Governor's Commission on Suicide Prevention:

The Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention will be held virtually on November 15 at 1 to 3pm. These meetings are open to the public and are live-streamed from Maryland's Commission on Suicide Prevention's Facebook page.

Cultural Inclusiveness and Equity WISE

A new companion training to Classroom WISE entitled Cultural Inclusiveness and Equity WISE (Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators) is now available. In this FREE 3-part training, developed by the Central East MHTTC in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health, K-12 educators and school staff will learn how inequities in education impact student mental health and how implicit bias influences our perceptions and responses. Building on this foundation, educators and school staff will learn culturally inclusive classroom strategies to support student mental health. 

Learn More

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.

Do you Promote 988?
Yes
No

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 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 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.

Trainings and Resources


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.


*New* update Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMSHA) Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma Informed Approach: This guide provides implementation strategies across a multitude of domains based on the SAMHSA Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach Resource from 2014 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, 12-1pm EDT and award one CEU (unless otherwise specified) Register.


The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Shines Light on Reducing Mental Health and Suicide Stigma in Latinx and Hispanic Communities:

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention highlights important ways to take action within the Latinx community. Read Here.



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.


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.


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


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

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.

Read More.

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.

Approaches to Data and Best Practices

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.

Read More






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