"Suicide

is a very serious, yet very preventable, public health problem,"

said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director of DHR's Division of Public

Health. "With greater public awareness and support for prevention

resources we can save hundreds of lives. This plans shows us how."

The Georgia

Suicide Prevention Plan outlines ways to prevent suicide deaths and suicidal

behavior and the traumatic impact of suicide on loved ones, following

guidelines provided by the United States Surgeon General's Call to Action

to Prevent Suicide.

Using a systematic

public health model, the plan defines suicide, identifies risk and protective

factors, and outlines and evaluates intervention methods. Action steps

aim to develop support for suicide prevention; reduce stigma for people

who seek help; and involve communities, helping agencies, professionals,

families and individuals in planning and implementing prevention efforts.

Other steps would strengthen prevention and treatment resources and improve

systems for studying the problem and evaluating the success of prevention

programs.

"The Georgia

Suicide Prevention Plan is a living document that provides a framework

for getting everyone in Georgia involved in preventing suicide,"

said Jerry Weyrauch, who with his wife Elsie founded SPAN USA in 1996

in Marietta. "As a national grassroots organization, SPAN USA is

proud to form a partnership with many Georgia public and private organizations

to do something about the problem of suicide in our home state."

For a copy

of The Georgia Suicide Prevention Plan, visit the SPAN USA Web site at

www.spanusa.org , or contact Laurell Reussow of the Georgia Suicide

Prevention Plan Management Team at [email protected] or 770-740-0632.

Additional

information on suicide in Georgia, including suicide rates by county for

the years 1994-98, is provided by the Division of Public Health's report

"Suicide in Georgia: 2000," which can be obtained from Karen

Flemister, Epidemiology, 14th floor, Two Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta,

GA 30303 or 404-657-3103 or on the Web at https://health.state.ga.us/programs/injuryprevention

/pdfs/suicidemanual.pdf .

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