In addition to best practice language around suicide, there are several key terms used frequently in the state plan. The following list encompasses some prominent key terms and core concepts, and an extended glossary can be found in Appendix 3:

Community-tailored: Adapting programs, interventions, or resources to specifically meet the unique needs, cultures, values, and circumstances of a specific community.

Disproportionately impacted: Certain groups of individuals that are uniquely at risk of suicide often due to inequities in accessing care, support, and services needed to improve mental health and prevent suicide (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

Lived experience: In the field of suicide prevention, lived experience with suicide is referred to as “suicide-centered lived experience.” Individuals with suicide-centered lived experience include those who have had thoughts of suicide, survived a suicide attempt, lost a loved one to suicide, or provided substantial support to a person with direct experience of suicide. (Suicide Prevention Resource Center)

Parent: Someone who raises a child. “Parent” is used as a broad term in this plan, and includes mothers, fathers, caregivers, guardians, and other relatives responsible for bringing up children.

Postvention: Activities that reduce risk and promote healing after a death by suicide. Effective postvention response requires preparation ahead of a loss and should include input from suicide loss survivors.  

Protective factor: A characteristic at the biological, psychological, family, or community (including peers and culture) level that is associated with a lower likelihood of problem outcomes or that reduces the negative impact of a risk factor on problem outcomes. (SPRC)

Risk factor: A characteristic at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precedes and is associated with a higher likelihood of problem outcomes, like suicide. (SPRC)

Social determinants of health: Conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. These may include economic stability, education, health care access, housing security, and relationships and interactions with people in the community (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020).