Prevention Resources

Prevention Resources

What is suicide prevention?

Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have harmful lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. While its causes are complex and determined by multiple factors, the goal of suicide prevention is simple: reduce factors that increase risk (risk factors) and increase factors that promote resilience (protective factors). Prevention addresses all levels of influence: individual, relationship, community, and societal. Coalitions support these efforts in their local communities by raising awareness and providing training.

What are suicide prevention coalitions?

Coalitions are groups of diverse individuals or organizations of individuals who work together to reach a common goal. It is an organization of organizations. By definition, in a coalition not everyone agrees or totally has the same interests. To learn more about community coalitions visit the Community Toolkits for Preventing Suicide page.

Prevention Resource Centers

Three Prevention Resource Centers (PRCs) provide regional support across the state to students, parents, educators, community groups, community agencies, law enforcement and any other interested entity looking for prevention resource materials or support. Each PRC has a resource library with videos, DVDs, books, CDs, brochures and curriculum, available for public use.

Helpline Center

The Helpline Center is a part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline crisis centers and answers 988 for South Dakota. The Helpline Center offers a variety of suicide prevention training, crisis support and survivor services that include grief support for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide. The Helpline Center is the only accredited suicide prevention, intervention and after-care organization in South Dakota.

National Suicide Prevention Organizations: