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

September 2007 TW Cares selects MYSPP as recipient of in-kind services.
TW Cares PSA airs from March—May 2008

January 2008 Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Guidelines for Schools are accepted for inclusion in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Adherence to Standards registry

September 2008 Awarded second Garrett Lee Smith (SAMHSA) funding to work with 11 Maine high schools and their community service providers as well as work with high risk groups and data collection

September 2008 MYSPP Plan revision approved

October 2008 Hazelden Publishing Co. acquires Lifelines program (MYSPP is co-author) for national dissemination.

Program INFORMATION

Selected Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program Milestones