Suicide prevention focus of new HHD resource center

Health and Human Development Programs at Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is establishing a National Suicide Prevention Resource Center, with a grant of $2.5 million per year for a total of three years, to help communities implement suicide prevention programs. The grant was awarded to EDC on October 1, 2002 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The center will draw from HHD’s ongoing work on suicide prevention, including a national project www.ncspt.org to train public health professionals through online workshops and other educational resources.

“Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States," said Dr. Lloyd Potter, deputy director of HHD’s Center for Violence and Injury Prevention. “The Center’s primary goal will be to save lives by sharing best practices in suicide prevention. We are honored to have the tremendous opportunity to work with SAMHSA, the Federal Steering Committee and our dedicated partners to create a central resource for states and communities who are seeking to build and evaluate suicide prevention programs,” Dr. Potter said.

The National Suicide Prevention Resource Center will be based at our Newton, Massachusetts headquarters. It is a collaborative effort among HHD, the American Association of Suicidology, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Suicide Prevention Action Network.

“The center will have a vital role in preventing suicide in this country, and achieving the goals and objectives for action contained in the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention,” said Dr. Morton Silverman, an international expert on suicide prevention, who will direct the new center.

Health & Human Development Programs :: 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458-1060
phone 800.225.4276 :: fax 617.527.4096 :: email info@hhd.org

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