At the Association for Children’s Mental Health (ACMH), we all bring lived experience – many of us have faced suicidal thoughts ourselves, supported loved ones through crises, and, sadly, lost friends and family to suicide. These experiences drive our commitment to reducing stigma, creating safe spaces for support, and preventing the loss of more children, parents, friends, and neighbors to suicide.
The State of Michigan recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Month. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II recently issued a proclamation emphasizing that suicide is preventable and mental illness is treatable.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and ACMH encourages all residents to participate in awareness activities, share resources, and educate communities about suicide as a public health issue.
Proclamation highlights include:
- Michigan’s 2023 suicide rate was 14.9 per 100,000, with 1,530 residents dying by suicide.
- Statewide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline coverage has provided critical support, answering over 242,000 calls since July 2022.
- Programs like the Transforming Youth Suicide Prevention Program and Preventing Suicide in Michigan Men Program work to create sustainable change across the state.
- With One Voice connects coalitions and advocates to prevent suicide and increase hope and healing statewide.
Resources recommended by MDHHS:
- Man Therapy Suicide Prevention Month Toolkit – Free social media toolkit to start conversations about suicide prevention.
- Moving Suicide Prevention Upstream – Guidance for taking meaningful action before a crisis occurs.
- Being a Good Relative: A Training for Crisis Counselors – Free, self-paced course for crisis counselors working with Indigenous communities.
- SAMHSA Back to School – Tools for parents, caregivers, and educators to support children’s behavioral well-being.
- Foundations of Lived Experience – Video insights from leaders who shaped the suicide prevention lived experience movement.
ACMH is also working to provide additional resources, including our own Crisis Compass & Navigator, a resource that can be used for families navigating crises, as well as standalone materials developed in partnership with M-HEAL and EHCO at the University of Michigan, to further support families, youth, and communities across the state.
Additionally, ACMH, in partnership with the MDHHS, is rolling out new Crisis Peer Support training to bring the power of lived experience into children’s crisis response. Developed through years of parent peer practice and statewide workgroup input, this training equips Crisis Support Partners to walk alongside parents and caregivers during a child’s crisis, reducing isolation and stigma while empowering families with hope, resilience, and connection. Our goal is to launch a pilot cohort with established Parent Support Partners by early 2026, creating the foundation for broader statewide implementation.
Suicide prevention is a year-round commitment. Share the proclamation, use these resources, and join us in promoting hope and access to support for all Michiganders. Together, we can make a difference.
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