2024 Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan Strategic Plan Update

In 2018, Santa Cruz County formed a Suicide Prevention Task Force to address the critical issue of suicide. The Task Force, comprised of diverse community members, developed a comprehensive Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, which was adopted in 2019. This 2024 Plan Update reflects the progress made since then and outlines future directions for suicide prevention efforts in the county.

The problem of suicide is complex, and effective suicide prevention

requires a combination of efforts working together to address

different aspects of the problem. A public health approach is

comprehensive, including a range of strategies at the population,

community, and individual levels to help prevent problems from

occurring and address access to effective care when problems

do occur. Programs that have taken the public health approach

to suicide prevention have demonstrated reductions in suicidal

behaviors, as well as other negative outcomes.

The Santa Cruz County Strategic plan for Suicide prevention is

based on a comprehensive approach that has the greatest potential

to reduce suicide risk in our county. The model below helps

conceptualize a public health approach within the context of an

individual’s suicidal experience. It is a framework to match strategies

and interventions that would help prevent suicide at each stage of

the crisis pathway. This model describes important components and

considerations for suicide prevention planning.