Cooperative Agreements to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (Short Title: National Strategy Grants)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2017 Cooperative Agreements to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (Short Title: National Strategy Grants) grants. The purpose of this program is to support states in implementing the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) goals and objectives focused on preventing suicide and suicide attempts among adults age 25 and older in order to reduce the overall suicide rate and number of suicides in the U.S. nationally. While youths have the highest rates of suicide attempts, middle aged adults have the highest number of deaths by suicide nationwide. Between 1999-2010 suicides among adults aged 35-64 increased by 28% (CDC MMWR, 62[17]: 321-325). These trends have continued through 2015. Suicide is also the second leading cause of death among adults 25-34 (CDC WISQARS Fatal Injury Data, 10 Leading Causes of Death Reports, 1999-2010). In 2010 more than 70 percent of the suicides in the U.S. took place among adults between ages 25-64 (CDC Fatal Injury Data, 1999-2010 US Suicide Deaths). Additionally, older adults, particularly males, have historically had the nation’s highest suicide rates. The nation’s suicide prevention efforts must address the issues of suicidal thoughts, plans, attempts, and deaths among adults to accomplish the goal of turning around the growth in deaths by suicide, and actually reducing that number significantly over the next few years. National Strategy Grants are authorized under section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD and/or Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.