Zero Suicide

Zero Suicide provides a framework for holistic, clinical suicide prevention in health and behavioral health care systems through best practices and tools. The Zero Suicide Framework is committed to patient safety and closing gaps in care management and treatment plans while transforming the organizational culture around suicide prevention.

Why Zero Suicide?

Zero Suicide foundational principles commit to reducing suicide, taking steps across systems of care to create a culture of support, and using evidence-based clinical care practices. The Zero Suicide approach provides practical tools and resources to improve outcomes for people at risk of suicide in health care systems, with a focus on safety and reducing errors.

Zero Suicide is a widely used practice to prevent suicide and is included in:

• A goal of the Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan
• A priority of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• A goal of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
• A project of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Zero Suicide core elements

• Commitment to reducing suicide from leadership
• Create a standardized screening and risk assessment for those receiving care
• Develop suicide care management plans with each patient
• Train competent and caring staff
• Use effective, evidence-based treatments
• Follow-up with patients during their care transitions
• Look for ways to use data collection to inform change and improve quality in health care

Get Involved

Please contact Jenilee Telander at Jenilee.Telander@state.mn.us for more information on the Zero Suicide Framework or how to become involved in the next statewide Zero Suicide cohort. See past Zero Suicide Participants.

Any heath care agency can independently get involved with Zero Suicide. Learn more about how to get started with Zero Suicide.

Additional Resources

Zero Suicide