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If someone is seeking help or want to talk to someone Call 1-800-241-4949 Free · 24/7 · Confidential · Wayne County

Community Prevention

Preventing suicide
together.

The Wayne County Suicide Prevention Coalition is a community partnership led by DWIHN with a mission to reduce the number of suicide deaths, uniting organizations, mental health practitioners, and community members to reduce incidence and educate the public.

Multi-Sector Coalition Partners
Free Training QPR & SafeTALK Programs
24/7 Crisis Line 988 & 1-800-241-4949

Aligned with the State of Michigan and Michigan Association for Suicide Prevention.

Our Mission

Wayne County Suicide Prevention Coalition

The Wayne County Suicide Prevention Coalition is a community partnership led by Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network with a mission to reduce the number of suicide deaths. The Coalition has aligned its goals with the State of Michigan and Michigan Association for Suicide Prevention.

The purpose of the suicide awareness and prevention coalition in Wayne County is to bring collective efforts of local citizen organizations, mental health practitioners, and related professionals to reduce the incidence of suicide and educate the public on mental illnesses that can sometimes lead to suicide ideation.

What We Do

Our coalition goals

Suicide is a public health problem that is preventable. Our coalition works across nine strategic areas:

  1. Promote awareness that suicide is a public health problem that is preventable
  2. Develop broad-based support for suicide prevention
  3. Reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention services
  4. Develop and implement community-based suicide prevention programs
  5. Implement training for recognition of at-risk behavior and delivery of effective treatment
  6. Develop and promote effective clinical and professional practices
  7. Increase access to and community linkages with mental health and substance abuse services
  8. Improve reporting and portrayals of suicidal behavior, mental illness, and substance abuse in the media
  9. Promote, support, and enhance research on suicide and suicide prevention

We Promote

Three pillars of our work

Awareness

People in our community will be aware that suicide is a relevant problem and that it is possible to reduce the rate of suicide.

Support

People in our community will be supported when seeking help for suicidal thoughts and feelings. They will know that there are local resources available.

Hope

People in our community will gain hope that life can get better, that we can work through obstacles, and that we can drastically reduce the rate of deaths by suicide.

How We Work

Coalition programs and initiatives

QPR & SafeTALK Training

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and SafeTALK gatekeeper training for community members, school staff, healthcare workers, and employers, teaching recognition of warning signs and how to connect someone to help.

Community Awareness Campaigns

Public education campaigns, safe messaging media content, community events, and survivor storytelling initiatives that reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking in Wayne County.

Survivor & Postvention Support

Support groups, resources, and connections to care for individuals who have survived a suicide attempt and for those who have lost someone to suicide. Grief support following a loss by suicide.

Multi-Sector Collaboration

A multi-sector coalition including schools, healthcare systems, faith communities, law enforcement, and non-profits working together on a shared suicide prevention strategic plan for Wayne County.

Join Us

How you can get involved

The Coalition can provide suicide prevention training, resources, and consultation throughout Wayne County.

Monthly Coalition Meetings

Join us every Third Tuesday at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Open to all community members, organizations, and advocates.

Register for Training & Events

Free QPR and SafeTALK gatekeeper training available for organizations throughout Wayne County.

dwctraining.com

Contact the Coordinator

Suicide Prevention Coordinator: Andrea Smith

313-550-2196 asmith1@dwihn.org

MDHHS Suicide Prevention

The MDHHS Suicide Prevention website hosts fact sheets, resources, trainings, events, coalitions, and communication tools.

michigan.gov/suicideprevention

Support Resources

If you are in crisis or need support

If you're in crisis or having thoughts about suicide, reach out now, support is here and you don't have to face this alone.

  • Crisis Text Line Text "HELLO" to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor via text message, available 24/7.
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) for 24/7 confidential support and connection to local resources. Call 988
  • Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission Meeting details, minutes, and state prevention resources. View Commission resources

Grief & Bereavement Support

24/7 Crisis Support

1-800-241-4949

Free · Confidential · Wayne County

Call or Text 988 Text HELLO to 741741

Get Involved

Join the Wayne County Suicide Prevention Coalition

The coalition welcomes schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, businesses, advocacy groups, and individual community members. Together we can make Wayne County a place where no one faces suicidal crisis alone.

  • Access free QPR and SafeTALK training for your organization
  • Participate in coalition planning and monthly Zoom meetings
  • Share prevention resources with your community
  • Help build a community-wide response to suicide
Contact Andrea Smith to Join

Crisis resources

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988, free, confidential, 24/7 Call or Text 988
DWIHN Crisis Line 1-800-241-4949, Wayne County · 24/7 Call 1-800-241-4949
Crisis Text Line Text HELLO to 741741