Welcome and Warm-up

Kirk Postlewaite, Director, Vermont Suicide Prevention Center, opened the meeting and gave an agenda overview for the morning. 

Vermont Annual Suicide Report Data

Jeffrey Trites, Public Health Data Analyst at VDH, reviewed the past year’s data for suicide deaths and suicide-related ED visits, ED data as of early August, 2024, and Firearm injuries and deaths between 2014-2023. For details and for specific data by county and population groups, see Meeting Notes and the Slide Deck.

Exploring Your Role: Where Do You See Yourself in the VT Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan?

Chris Allen, Director of Suicide Prevention, DMH, and Kirk Postlewaite, CHL, led a session reviewing the VT State Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention strategies and ways for Vermonters to connect about their current work and explore opportunities for further efforts in suicide prevention. The session provided space for groups to discuss prevention activities and ways to get involved with the Strategic Plan as implementation gets underway. 

Building Collaboration in Suicide Prevention

Julie Ebin, Project Director with the national organization, Education Development Center, provided an overview of regional coalition-building efforts from the Community-led Suicide Prevention toolkit.

VT Examples of Regional Collaboration and Partnerships

Claudia Alexander, Northern Counties Health Care, Terri Lavely, Northeast Kingdom Human Services, and Andrea Willey, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, brought the state-level conversation to the NEK region. They shared the pillars of the accountable health community and the relationships and community support that result.

Breakout Groups & Closing Discussion

Coalition members broke into groups to consider current work, regional needs, who is at the table, and how the Strategic Plan implementation will integrate longstanding suicide prevention work throughout Vermont.  

Announcements, Trainings, and Resources

VERMONT TRAININGS & RESOURCES

Statewide Facing Suicide VT Events Calendar:

visit https://facingsuicidevt.com/events/  

Upcoming Trainings at CHL & VTSPC:

visit https://healthandlearning.org/trainings/ 

Resources from the meeting:

For any questions related to the Strategic Plan, contact Chris Allen, Director of Suicide Prevention, at christopher.m.allen@vermont.gov or facingsuicidevt@vermont.gov.  

For data questions, contact ahd.vdhsuicidedata@vermont.gov.  

VDH Suicide Surveillance Dashboard

Annual Suicide Morbidity and Mortality Report

State Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention

Community-led Suicide Prevention Toolkit

Resources on CHL/VTSPC sites:

Finding a Mental Health Professional in Vermont Resource Guide

https://healthandlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vermont-Guide-to-Finding-a-Mental-Health-Professional.pdf  

Youth Serving Organizations: Lethal Means Safety Resource Guide

https://healthandlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FINAL-GLS-Lethal-Means-Safety-Resource-Guide-2023.pdf  

Lethal Means Safety Resource Guide

https://healthandlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FINAL-2-Lethal-Means-Safety-Resource-Guide-2023.pdf 

Tips for Firearms Dealers

https://healthandlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FINAL-SP-Firearms-Dealers_Oct23.pdf  

Tips for Firearm Range Operators

https://healthandlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FINAL-SP-Range-Operators_Oct23.pdf