Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #96627

Stuart Berlow, MPP, MHSA, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 1275 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, 202-715-1623, sberlow@astho.org

To coordinate entities and promote collaboration around suicide prevention, ASTHO began a series of policy development roundtables in 2003. Collaboration Around Youth Suicide Prevention brings together public health, mental health, and education agency leadership, as well as legislators, governors' staff, researchers and advocates.

Since 2003, three roundtables have included 20 states. Each roundtable features 6-7 state-teams, each with 5-8 individuals. During the two-day workshop, participants learn from national experts and state coordinators who have developed successful programs. Most of the conference involves facilitated state-team meetings to develop action plans for moving state planning/implementation efforts forward. Participants identify priorities, and challenges and barriers that have impeded progress. Teams leave with a consensus action plan.

These roundtables produce qualitative and quantifiable results. Relationships develop and strengthen, opening new lines of communication between agencies. State coalitions that suffered from “burnout” or attrition enjoyed a reinvigoration, and rapidly began progressing with planning efforts. Several legislators attended and subsequently introduced suicide legislation, leading to new appropriations. In several states, agency leaders came to view suicide as a priority that demanded attention; many have pushed suicide prevention with governors.

ASTHO's roundtables showcase the imperative of collaboration among agencies and organizations. Often, suicide lacks a formal “home”. Developing an infrastructure with broad perspectives is crucial to moving prevention forward. Successful states enjoy buy-in from Governors or other champions. ASTHO will continue providing this forum, enabling state to make the connections and progress necessary for developing policy and programs, and to begin addressing this significant public health problem.

Learning Objectives: