Working with partners, EDC is reducing injuries, violence, and suicide across the age spectrum.
Far too many people are at risk of serious injuries and mental health challenges. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Among infants and children, ages 0–19, injuries and violence result in over 9 million emergency room visits a year. Worldwide, the toll of domestic violence and community violence continues from one generation to the next.
EDC develops strategies, supports professionals and communities, and catalyzes action to address these urgent public health priorities. We work across international, national, state, and local boundaries to integrate evidence-based injury, suicide, and violence prevention into public health and health care systems. We gather and use data to inform policies, programs, and practices so that efforts are tailored to the populations and communities where needs are the greatest—and where the greatest impact can be achieved. In all of this work, we actively engage people with lived experience and promote equity.
Through our work to support well-being amid crisis and conflict and our leadership of initiatives, such as the Zero Suicide Institute, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, H.O.P.E, Education & Wellbeing, and the Children’s Safety Network, we seek to prevent harm, to support those who are struggling, to transform outcomes, and to ensure all people thrive.
Learn more: Read or download A World Free from Suicide.
Related Content
New Developments from the Zero Suicide Institute at EDC
Explore our work to support systems of care in adopting and sustaining continuous quality improvement practices that transform suicide prevention and treatment.
New Developments from the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention at EDC
Catch up on the Action Alliance’s initiatives and explore their wide array of toolkits, reports, fact sheets, archived learning events, and more.
New Developments from the Children’s Safety Network at EDC
Visit the Children’s Safety Network at EDC website for the latest news about their learning events, upcoming presentations, and resources.
Zero Suicide: What About Treat?
Learn about Zero Suicide, a quality improvement framework that transforms system-wide suicide care, in this editorial by Julie Goldstein Grumet and David A. Jobes.
A Multi-Tiered Approach to Promoting SEL
Read this Edutopia article by EDC’s Shai Fuxman to learn about a coordinated approach to ensuring all students have the support they need.
State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure
Use these recommendations developed by EDC suicide prevention specialists to help you identify and strengthen key elements of suicide prevention infrastructure in your community.
Community-Led Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Check out EDC’s community suicide prevention toolkit to help your community take a comprehensive approach to promoting mental health and preventing suicide.
Taking a Stand Against Suicide
Learn how to use an APHA policy statement to increase support for suicide prevention advocacy efforts in this article by EDC’s Dr. Kristen Quinlan and colleague Dr. Emily Schmied.
Suicide is Rising Among Younger Students—Here’s How Schools Can Prevent Tragedy
Explore insights on stressors for children, as well as the impact of disparities in mental health equity and discipline on children, in this article featuring the perspectives of EDC’s Ellyson Stout.
Preventing Suicide in Schools: A Systemwide Approach
Find out about six key steps that help schools create a systemwide approach to school suicide prevention in this article by Shawna Hite-Jones and Julie Goldstein Grumet.
Projects
Resources
Here are a few of our resources on injury, violence, and suicide prevention. To see more, visit our Resources section.
EDC has partnered with the International Association of Chiefs of Police to convene the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide to lead a national conversation around the issues of officer mental health and suicide.
This poster reminds advocates of the key warning signs of suicide which are examined in the H.O.P.E Suicide Prevention Training for Crime Victim Advocates. It is designed to be posted in advocates’ office spaces for quick reference.
This guide is designed to assist emergency department (ED) health care professionals with decisions about the care of patients at risk of suicide.
In this study, Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) was evaluated for its effectiveness in suicide risk management. Analyzing over 560 clinical records from a psychiatric facility, the study found a 2.5 percent re-admission rate within 10 days for patients recommended for outpatient care by AMSR-trained staff.
The National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report addresses five key areas: (1) data and research, (2) organization and systems change, (3) peer support, (4) family support and surviving families, and (5) messaging. These recommendations aim to help the law enforcement field improve access, quality, and acceptance of mental health resources, advance suicide prevention efforts, and support a culture of safety and wellness.
This report presents some of the accomplishments of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention during its first five years (2010–2015).
This resource library contains programs and strategies for addressing school-based health and safety issues, including bullying, substance abuse, mental health, and school discipline.
SPARK Talks—Short, Provocative, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Knowledgeable—are feature videos of leaders in the suicide prevention field describing a new development or direction and issuing a c
This online toolkit supports the implementation of the Zero Suicide Initiative in health and behavioral health care settings.
This report presents highlights and findings from EDC’s administration of the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey to 24,355 high school students in 26 Massachusetts communities in 2014.