About Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Minnesota Department of Health's mental health and suicide prevention efforts are based on evidence that most suicides are preventable, mental illness is treatable, and recovery is possible. Suicide is a serious public health problem that can leave lasting effects on individuals, families and communities. 

Mental health and suicide prevention in action

MDH partners with other state agencies and community partners to:

• Review, coordinate, and implement the Minnesota Suicide Prevention State Plan.  
• Fund community-based suicide prevention.
• Support workplace and professional networks.
• Collect and report data on suicide prevention.
• Evaluate prevention programs and policies. 

Our comprehensive public health approach to mental health and suicide prevention works to:

• Improve infrastructure.  
• Increase collaboration.  
• Build capacity for local communities to work in upstream prevention, early intervention, crisis intervention, and postvention (support after a death by suicide). 

The state suicide prevention plan provides a framework for people, communities, organizations, and governments to address mental health and take action to prevent suicides, including:

• Infrastructure improvement plan to understand suicide prevention activities across the State and leverage existing policies, programs, and practices occurring within communities.​  
• Prevention efforts such as the 988 Minnesota Lifeline, suicide prevention trainings in communities, and the Zero Suicide initiative to improve the suicide and self-harm care within health care and behavioral health clinics and organizations.    
• Strategies for individuals, families, and communities, and populations most at risk. ​ 

Working across Minnesota

The MDH Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit oversees state and federally funded suicide prevention grants and partnerships to support: 

• 988 Minnesota Lifeline.  
• Suicide prevention coordination across MDH, Suicide Prevention Task Force, other state agencies, and local communities to:  
  • lead to a comprehensive suicide prevention approach and serve populations most burdened by suicide, self-inflicted injury and or ideation.
  • reduce factors that increase risk and increase factors that promote resilience.  
  • develop culturally appropriate strategies to understand and respond to the needs and culture of the community. ​  
• Regional Suicide Prevention Coordination across the state.  

View the complete list of current Suicide Prevention State Grantees.

Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Taskforce

The Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Taskforce consists of multi-sector stakeholders from both public and private sectors that live or work in the State of Minnesota. The Taskforce includes people representing State Agencies as well as other agencies, organizations, and institutions across the State of Minnesota, loss survivors, advocates, local public health, and the faith community. The Taskforce and subcommittees work together toward a common goal, which is to improve mental health and reduce suicidal experiences among all Minnesotans.

Get involved

Anyone can get involved in mental health promotion and suicide prevention.

• Educate yourself on improved mental health, suicide prevention, and suicide risk and protective factors.
• Take a training on suicide prevention, such as Suicide Prevention Skills Trainings – QPR and SafeTalk, ASIST, and Mental Health First Aid.
• Become a Certified Peer Specialist.
• Loss survivors – learn to tell your story in a safe way.
• Learn about safe messaging, and how to talk about suicide.

Contact

Contact the MDH Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit at Health.suicideprev.MDH@state.mn.us for more information.