Suicide remains a significant public health concern in Wisconsin. From 2014-2023, suicide rates in Wisconsin increased by about 15%. Behind every statistic on suicide death is a tremendous loss, with profound impact on individuals, families, and communities that cannot be adequately quantified or described in words. The work of Prevent Suicide Wisconsin and our many partners throughout the years is fueled by our love for those we have lost, and our commitment to generating hope through action. Wisconsin’s Suicide Prevention Plan is designed to increase the effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts by providing statewide data along with best practices, resources, and recommended action steps for those who share this same commitment.

Suicide is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted, holistic approach. While there has been great progress in destigmatizing suicide and mental health struggles more generally, the issue of suicide cannot be left solely to mental health professionals. For many people who die by suicide, mental health issues are not a main contributing factor in their death. Many other factors may contribute to suicide, including poverty, violence, historical and childhood trauma, environmental hazards, and natural disasters. We need strong communities to help one another survive and thrive during hard times and ultimately build a world where everyone has what they need to get by.  

Everyone can play a role in reducing suicide, and our prevention efforts are stronger when we collaborate across sectors and communities, working together towards shared goals. This plan was created to be both practical and aspirational, and written to include something for anybody who picks it up. This is not meant to be a complete, comprehensive list of all the possible activities that could help people build a life they see as worth living. We invite our readers to apply these guidelines in the places they work and live, and to build on the ideas put forth here.

The strategies for prevention put forth by the plan are organized into three tiers:

• Tier 1: Community-Based Prevention:
  Promoting mental health, suicide prevention and postvention in the places where we live, work, study, worship, and age, outside of formal care services.
• Tier 2: Prevention and Intervention Across the Continuum of Care:
  Improve suicide care and support throughout the range of services in health and behavioral health systems.
• Tier 3: Data Collection and Program Evaluation:
  Build capacity in local and state partners to improve data on suicide in our state. Promote program evaluation to build collective understanding of the most impactful interventions to increase protective factors, reduce risk factors, and prevent suicide.

Prevent Suicide Wisconsin is deeply grateful to our partners and the collective experience of coalition-building over the last 15 years. There are many partners in Wisconsin leading the way towards hope, and we see this plan as another step in that direction.