Perspectives on Mental Health and Suicide Advocacy

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Perspectives on Mental Health and Suicide
Advocacy

• World Mental Health Day
• October 10, 2006
• Pan American Health Organization
• A Collaborative Effort Between
• The World Federation for Mental Health and the
• International Association of Suicide Prevention
• Building Awareness Reducing Risk
• Mental Illness and Suicide
• Jerry Reed, MSW
• Executive Director
• 
  

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Advocacy

• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
  committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
  its the only thing that ever has. -
  Margaret Mead
• The rights of every person are diminished when
  the rights of one are threatened.
• - John F. Kennedy
• Human progress is neither automatic nor
  inevitable... Every step toward the goal of
  justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and
  struggle the tireless exertions and passionate
  concern of dedicated individuals. 
• - Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Advocacy is

• using your personal story and life experience
  to change hearts, minds and attitudes through
  education and example on a day-to-day
  basis. Stephen Propst Summer
  2003 DBSA Newsletter

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The Model for Action
Richmond and Kotelchucks Health Policy
Model Found in Atwood, K, Colditz, G. A.,
Kawachi, I. (1997). From public health science to
prevention policy Placing science in its
social and political context. American Journal
of Public Health, 87(10).
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Knowledge Base
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Suicide in the World
Source http//www.who.int/mental_health/preventio
n/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
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The International Data

• Suicide is the 13th leading cause of death in the
  world
• WHO estimates there are 1,000,000 suicides in the
  world each year
• One death by suicide every 40 seconds and one
  attempt every 3 seconds in the world
• Suicide represents 1.4 of to total global burden
  of disease
• The global suicide rate was 14.8/100,000

• Up to 90 percent of suicides evidenced some form
  of mental disorder or substance abuse
• Rates tend to increase with age for both sexes
• Highest rates found in Eastern European countries
• Lowest rates found in Latin America and in a few
  countries in Asia
• Suicide accounted for 49.1 of violence related
  deaths

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Violent Deaths Worldwide
Achieving the Promise, July 2003
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Social Strategies
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The U.S. Foundation
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Political Will
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Survivor Engagement

• SPAN USA founded to engage survivors and build
  political will for change
• Turn grief to action
• Put a face to the tragedy of suicide
• Facilitate the healing journey
• Serve as a catalyst for change

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The Power of Our Message
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SPAN USAs 2006-2007 Public Policy Priorities

• Full FY 2007 Appropriation of the Garrett Lee
  Smith Memorial Act (PL 108-355)
• Passage of the Senator Paul Wellstone Mental
  Health Equitable Treatment Act
• 1.5 million to CDC to expand the National
  Violent Death Reporting System
• Legislation on senior suicide early intervention
  and prevention
• Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention

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The Power of Advocacy

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The Power of Advocacy
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Advocacy Works!
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The U.S. Response to Suicide Prevention
UN Guidelines for National Strategies
9 million forcrisis line grant
9 million for SPRC
9 million forcrisis line grant
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Grants
The Reno Conference
PNFC Report on Mental Health
SPAN USA forms
NSSP
SGs Call to Action to Prevent Suicide
GarrettLeeSmith MemorialAct signed
S. Res. 84H. Res. 212
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2004
2003
2005
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Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Update

• 36 state/tribal grants (400,000 per grantee)
• 55 campus grants (75,000 per grantee)
• National Suicide Prevention Resource Center

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Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention

• Contract awarded to SPAN USA in partnership with
  the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administration, in August 2006
• A coordinating body to implement, monitor, and
  provide leadership over the NSSP
• Engage public/private sector partners to move
  objectives from paper to practice

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How to be a Successful Advocate
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How to succeed

• Know your issue (facts, figures, statistics)
• Know what you want (research, funding, services,
  legislation)
• Engage politicians/appointed officials
• Know the champions for suicide prevention and
  mental health issues
• Engage advocates/survivors/consumers
• Engage the media
• Know what others are saying about this issue
• Who supports and who opposes
• Know what is being done
• Work with others (coalitions, task forces,
  working groups, etc.)

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Conclusion

• Advocacy should be purposeful
• Incorporate knowledge base, social strategies and
  political will to move towards prevention
• Inspire others to help
• Offer to do the work to get it done
• There is a finite number of resources be
  specific
• Know what you want and why
• Insist on accountability
• You have the right to ask for action
• Keep a record of your efforts
• You will make a difference
• If you dont act, it may not get done

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Advocacy is a lot like growing bamboo
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Closing Quote

• You must be the change you want to see in the
  world.
• Mahatma Gandhi

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Contact Information

• Jerry Reed
• Executive Director
• SPAN USA
• 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW
• Suite 1066
• Washington, DC 20005
• [phone]
• jreed_at_spanusa.org
• www.spanusa.org