State Infrastructure Tools

Recommendations and Related Products

Tools for Implementation

  • State Suicide Prevention Plans and Leadership Guidance NEWLY UPDATED!
    This document describes the key elements and characteristics that serve as the underpinning for effective state suicide prevention plans.
  • Assessing Community Suicide Prevention Needs: A Workbook for State Coordinators
    The purpose of this workbook is to help state suicide prevention coordinators determine whether to conduct CNAs in local communities, and if so, how to prepare to conduct one.
  • Getting Started Guide
    This Getting Started Guide helps states implement the Recommendations for State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure.
  • Essential Elements Assessment Tool
    This worksheet helps users identify the essential elements from the Recommendations for State Suicide Prevention Infrastructurethat your state currently has in place and/or that are missing from your state’s suicide prevention infrastructure.​
  • Timeline Development Worksheet
    This worksheet is designed to help you develop a timeline for each phase of your state’s infrastructure development in conjunction with the Getting Started Guide.​
  • State Infrastructure Summary Checklist 
    This checklist is an interactive version of the summary recommendations and provides users with an editable section to add notes.
  • Suicide State Fact Sheets (from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) 
    These fact sheets contain state-specific information about existing suicide prevention leadership structure and legislation. They also include data to help you make the case for improving infrastructure in your state.
  • State Suicide Prevention Coordinator Position Descriptions
    This packet of position descriptions contains real-life examples from three U.S. states that can be used in full or in part by any state.​

For Champions

  • Using SPRC’s State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure RecommendationsTalking Points for Advocates (from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
    ​This handy resource will help you prepare for, meet with, and follow up with policy makers regarding your state’s infrastructure.
  • Cover Letter for State Policymakers
    This cover letter, written by former Senators Linda Newell and Randall Head, introduces their fellow state policymakers to the summary recommendations for State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure and makes a compelling case for states to shift their focus from crisis response to prevention. You can use this resource when talking with your state’s policymakers about suicide prevention infrastructure.
  • State Infrastructure Promotional Slides
    This PowerPoint slide set can be downloaded and used in your presentations to promote the Infrastructure Recommendations. It provides a brief overview of the recommendations, as well as a deep dive into the many tools available to support implementation.
  • State and Territorial Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment Homepage NEWLY ADDED!
    This homepage is your one-stop shop for resources on SPRC’s State and Territorial Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment, an annual survey that examines the suicide prevention infrastructure and capacity of U.S. states and territories.