Minnesota Suicide Prevention State Plan

The 2023-2027 Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan provides a framework for people, communities, organizations, and governments to take action to prevent suicides. Through this plan and the actions of all, we can reverse the increasing trend in the number of suicide deaths each year.

The State Suicide Prevention Plan is based on the belief that suicides can be prevented, healing is possible, and help is available.

Download the complete 2023-2027 Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan (PDF).

A comprehensive approach

Suicide affects people from every race, age, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ability in Minnesota. Minnesota has seen a consistent, decade-long increasing trend in the number of deaths by suicide each year, similar to trends across the United States. While death by suicide occurs at the individual level, each person lives in context of relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and within neighborhoods, community, and society.

The State Plan outlines two main goals:

1. Improve, expand, and coordinate the suicide prevention infrastructure in Minnesota.
2. Prevent Minnesotans from having suicidal experiences and improve the lives of all those who are struggling, so they know they are not alone, help is available, and healing is possible.

The 2023-2027 Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Plan calls for a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. A comprehensive approach includes:

• Improving infrastructure
• Increasing collaboration
• Building capacity for local communities to work in upstream prevention, early intervention, crisis intervention, and postvention (support after a death by suicide).

It is important for us to take a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention that includes strategies for individuals, families, and communities. Implementation of complementary prevention strategies tailored for populations who are most at risk within a community can lessen harm and prevent future risk. Research has shown that people are less likely to attempt suicide or to die by suicide in communities that support, care for, and affirm all their members.

Opportunities for action

​This section outlines concrete ways individuals, organizations, and communities can help prevent suicide in Minnesota. Opportunities for action and additional resources to help support individuals who want to further contribute to suicide prevention efforts. Opportunity for action documents available: 

• ​Individuals (PDF)
• ​Communities (PDF)
• ​Tribal Communities (PDF)
• ​Schools (PDF)
• ​Media (PDF)
• ​Health care and behavioral health (PDF)
• ​Criminal justice systems (PDF)
• ​Faith communities (PDF)
• ​Workplaces (PDF)

Contact

Please contact us at health.suicideprev.mdh@state.mn.us if you have any questions or would like to further discuss the Suicide Prevention State Plan.