The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, a statewide not-for-profit organization, has
launched the Ohio Campaign for Hope: a 3-year initiative aimed restoring hope and wellbeing to Ohio’s youth. The Campaign for Hope is funded by $1.4M federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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The Challenge

  • Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for Ohioans
  • 1,402 Ohioans died by suicide in 2008
  • 90% of suicide completions are by persons with an undiagnosed or under treated mental illness
    and/or substance use disorder
  • People with serious mental illness die 25 years earlier than the general population
    Ohio’s average annual medical cost for suicide is $3,879,185 and work loss costs are $921,766,767
    per year (CDC)
  • Youth Suicides, ages 15-24, have increased by 18% since 2001
  • Female Youth suicides have increased by 36% since 2001
  • Male youth suicides have increased by 9% since 2001
  • On average youth suicides account for approximately 14% of Ohio Suicides
  • For youth ages 15—24 suicide is the third leading cause of death


What is the Ohio Campaign for Hope: Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative?

  • 3-year Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign funded by SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental
  • Health Services Administration Focusing on youth ages 15 to 24 statewide
  • Aims to expand suicide prevention awareness and education
  • Targets educators, military families and other adults working with high risk youth populations
  • including: youth in foster care, LGBT youth and youth in the justice system.
  • Mobilizes the OSPF Network of 75 suicide prevention coalitions to help promote and implement the online Gate Keeper training with a special focus on 26 at-risk counties that have higher than average national and state youth suicide rates: Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe,
    Noble, Muskingum, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Pike, Jackson, Ross, Champaign, Defiance, Shelby,
    Van Wert, Mercer, Paulding, Huron, Wayne, Seneca, Morrow, Richland, Knox and Ashtabula
  • Promotes the strategies of the National Suicide Lifeline

Program Elements

  • Promote use of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800 273-TALK (8255)
  • Engage and mentor local mental health services organizations in youth suicide prevention
  • Provide training to MH professionals in Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR)
  • Implement Columbia TeenScreen and Signs of Suicide curriculum in high risk counties
  • Implement Kognito’s At-Risk for High School Educators across the board
  • Output Measures
  • 20,000 educators across the state trained as gatekeepers
  • 450 professionals trained in AMSR training
  • 8,000 Ohio youth to complete Columbia TeenScreen and/or Signs of Suicide
  • 750 Ohio youth will receive follow up and treatment by local mental health providers
  • Increase use of National Lifeline website

About The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF, www.Ohiospf.org) is a catalyst to bring about
change in attitudes and perceptions regarding the stigma attached to suicide, mental illness, alcohol
and drug abuse and addiction. Launched in 2005, the Foundation’s mission is to promote suicide
prevention as a public health issue and advance evidence-based awareness, intervention and
methodology strategies which will support all Ohio-based suicide prevention efforts.