Selected Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program Milestones
1987
Mental Health Department Commissioner report on teen suicide
Legislative Statute required the Departments of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS), Education and Human Services to develop a teen suicide prevention strategy and a model program in secondary schools statewide
1995
Task Force on Prevention of Adolescent Suicide and Self-Destructive Behavior convened by Governor King through a Legislative Resolve
May 1996
Task Force presented 10 recommendations to Governor King, and requested State government to address this pressing problem among Maine youth. Governor King directed his Children's Cabinet to respond to the Task Force recommendations
July 1996
Two work teams established by the Children's Cabinet to develop a youth suicide prevention program
September 1997
Work teams presented the final draft implementation plan to the Governor and Children's Cabinet.
December 1997
Departmental staff began operationalizing program strategies
January 1998
Information and Resource Center, located in DMHMRSAS, Office of Substance Abuse, began to serve as the suicide prevention clearinghouse
EMS responders began collecting data on “Concern of Suicide” on Ambulance Run Reports
May 1998
Implementation Plan printed and disseminated
Spring 1998
EMS-C Partnership grant obtained, Gatekeeper Training component developed
March 1998
First Suicide Prevention Awareness Education session delivered
June 1998
Gatekeeper Training begins
July 1998
6 school linked/school based mental health programs funded for 1 year
August 1998
Reconnecting Youth Training Institute held in Maine
November 1998
Statewide Crisis Hotline established by DMHMRSAS
MYSPP Website Developed
April 1999
Statewide Firearm Safety workshop held
July 1999
First Crisis Clinician conference including Suicide Prevention
1999
Legislative Mandate requires School Crisis Plans
August 1999
Crisis Management in Maine Schools Conference
October 1999
Sponsored Survivor Conference for survivors and professionals
First Training of Trainers workshop conducted
April 2000
First Annual Event during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week
May 2000
Children’s Cabinet and initiatives established in Statute
January 2001
Lifelines curriculum piloted with Maine educators
May 2002
Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Guidelines for Schools disseminated to schools statewide
September 2002
Awarded CDC Cooperative Agreement to conduct comprehensive project in 12 Maine schools/communities
April 2004
The first Beyond the Basics of Suicide Prevention conference is held
February 2005
Governor Baldacci issues Executive Order, calls for Children’s Cabinet, through MYSPP Steering Committee, to strengthen Maine’s efforts to prevent youth suicide. Retreat held in March to launch response to Governor’s Order.
September 2005
Awarded Garrett Lee Smith (SAMHSA) funding to conduct comprehensive project in 3 counties as well as work with other high-risk groups
December 2005
Report is issued in response to Executive Order
September 2006
New websites are launched www.mainesuicideprevention.org
September 2006
First Maine Suicide and Self-Inflicted Surveillance Report
December 2007
New MYSPP Plan is released
