University of South Florida

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1-800-273-TALK

Cluster 4: Initiatives for Specific Populations

Highly Recommended Actions

All schools need to have "Where To Turn" books listing agencies to help all youth and their families.

Address issues (e.g., medical problems, loss of spouse & friends, financial problems) that cause depression in the elderly.

Make school administrators aware of the suicide prevention tools they can implement in their districts.

Require suicide prevention at the post-secondary school level for all health care professionals so they learn about suicide prevention at the beginning of their careers.

Increase awareness of early onset disorders like MH, SA and learning difficulties and the link to later suicidal thoughts, or ideations and attempts.

Other Recommended Actions

Work with primary care practitioners to assess for suicide risk and make referrals for treatment  including symptom identification and prescribing.

Youth in schools become depressed and feel isolated from name calling and harrassment
because of being different. Local and National organizations have been doing trainings to
show faculty how to stop this. Legislation needs to protect all youth.

Ensure children receive training in coping skills as well as communication skills from an early age while in school.  The curriculum must be modified as children mature to ensure applicability.

Identify a lot of the causative factors in children early on  preventive rather than treatment later.

Expand mental health services to children in schools and after school programs.

Screening methods to identify who needs intervention.

Develop new programs for working with juvenile offenders with substance abuse that are not punitive.

PFLAG a national support & advocacy organization provides educational materials, speakers & meetings in English, Spanish soon Creole-helping families, youth & adults of and who are sexual minorities to stop suicides. Education/support is vital.

Available help to survivors of a loved ones suicide not just immediate crisis counseling support groups in all areas of the state, and in the schools.

Pair retired nurses with kids at-risk of hurting themselves to be pals via electronically.

Substance abuse programs need to vary on type of substance abuse: mind altering or medically induced.

Education to stop hate speech against minorities will lower suicides.

LGBT youth are being thrown out of their homes and live on the streets, no place to stay, some have attempted and some have committed suicide.

Data is needed, friendly shelters for youth (education needed) & education and support groups  for parents.

Return counselors primary duty to counseling.

These actions were identified as a result of a collaborative effort between the Florida Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention, the Florida Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council, and the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition representing stakeholders throughout Florida, and in conjunction with FMHI/USF.