Harnessing the Power of Community in Pursuit of Zero Suicide

The Zero Suicide movement is an international movement which aims to eliminate suicide by way of radical healthcare system redesign1. In early 2017, within Brevard County, Florida, an international hub for aerospace and home to the Kennedy Space Center, a community based task force was assembled to intervene when the pediatric suicide rate reached one of the highest rates in the State of Florida. Pediatric Mental Health was previously identified as a top priority on multiple community health needs assessments performed by organizations throughout the region. Within the ensuing 24 months, a community wide evidence based technical package to prevent suicide was implemented and the pediatric suicide rate was reduced to near zero, the lowest rate the region had seen in over 20 years.