FY 2011 Cooperative Agreements for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center Follow Up

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2011 Cooperative Agreements for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center Follow Up. The purpose of this program is to promote systematic follow up of suicidal persons who call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or who are being followed by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Centers. This initiative supports SAMHSA’s Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Strategic Initiative through its focus on the prevention and reduction of mental illness and substance abuse across the lifespan. Every month, over 50,000 calls are answered through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. SAMHSA funded hotline evaluations have shown that large numbers of callers have significant histories of suicidal ideation and attempts and that 43% of suicidal callers experienced some recurrence of suicidal ideation within the next several weeks after the call. Outreach and prevention activities will address the needs of diverse populations, including but not limited to, the populations identified by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention; lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) youth, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), military family members and veterans. For those at imminent risk for suicide, emergency intervention is frequently initiated. For those not at imminent risk, crisis centers will typically provide referrals to mental health and other services, and will also advise the caller that they may call back if they are in crisis or have additional needs. Additionally, recent research findings from the Veterans Administration and surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control have demonstrated that the period after emergency interventions is one of heightened risk for suicide, with significant numbers of deaths occurring following discharge from either an Emergency Department or Inpatient hospitalization. By providing these grants, SAMHSA hopes to assist crisis centers in maintaining the safety of callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and to increase the likelihood of their receiving needed services. The Cooperative Agreements for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center Follow Up is one of SAMHSA’s services grant programs. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 4th month of the project at the latest. The Cooperative Agreements for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center Follow Up 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 2020-28. SAMHSA strongly encourages all grantees to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote abstinence from all tobacco products (except in regard to accepted tribal traditions and practices).