National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: Championing suicide prevention as a national priority and catalyzing change

Launched on September 10, 2010, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) brings together over 200 diverse organizations from the public and private sectors. The Action Alliance is the public-private partnership advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP). The mission is to champion suicide prevention as a national priority, catalyze efforts to implement high-priority objectives of the NSSP, and cultivate the resources needed to sustain progress. To achieve this mission, the Action Alliance brings together traditional and non-traditional suicide prevention partners. Examples include military and veteran organizations, public health and mental health professionals, juvenile justice agencies, business leaders, the faith community, suicide attempt survivors, survivors of suicide loss, LGBT organizations and more. The Action Alliance has identified four national priorities with the potential to significantly reduce suicide deaths: 1) Integrate suicide prevention into health care reform and encourage the adoption of similar measures in the private sector; 2) Transform health care systems to significantly reduce suicide; 3) Change the public conversation around suicide and suicide prevention; and 4) Increase the quality, timeliness, and usefulness of surveillance data regarding suicidal behaviors. This presentation will discuss the mission of the Action Alliance, the most significant achievements to date, and implementation of the national priorities. The presentation will also discuss the need for collaboration with diverse public health stakeholders to successfully reduce the burden of suicide in the US.