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Policy, data, and evaluation

The first ever county-wide Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention was approved by the Santa Clara County (SCC) Board of Supervisors in August 2010. Policy and Governance Advocacy is one of the five strategies recommended in the Plan. The primary objective of this strategy is to:

-Increase public awareness of suicide as a public health problem; and
-Promote policies and programs that prevent suicide at local, state, and federal level, and within different organizations; and
-Advocate for changes in in legislation and policy; and
-Advocate prevention funding.​

African American woman covering her face

The Suicide Prevention Data Workgroup works to establish a robust data collection and monitoring system in the County, in order to increase the scope and availability of suicide-related data and to evaluate suicide prevention efforts. 

 

2024 Latinx/e and Asian Stigma Reduction Effort

In 2024, the County of Santa Clara’s Suicide Prevention Oversight Committee (SPOC) took on a focused outreach and research process to improve its suicide prevention efforts among the Latinx/e and Asian communities in the county. SPOC initiated this process in response to a rising number of suicides among these populations in the county for three consecutive years, 2020-22. 

Below are updates on some of SPOC’s efforts in 2024, and a few ways to get involved:

  1. Better understand the issue and brainstorm creative solutions: SPOC formed an ad hoc research group, which met for more than six months to gather and review research related to suicide, mental health, and stigma among the Latinx/e and Asian communities. The resulting research report is intended to serve as a resource for anyone who works with these communities and/or in mental health and suicide prevention. See the report here: Understanding and Improving Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion for Santa Clara County Latinx/e Asian Communities.
  2. Apply for a mini-grant to support your work: From October 2024 through March 2025, SPOC is allocating mini-grants of up to $5,000 per organization to support mental health promotion and suicide prevention efforts for the Latinx/e, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean communities in the County. The Request for Proposals and mini-grant application are available here. Applications will be accepted and reviewed monthly, on a rolling basis. 
  3. Partner with us: Over the past year, SPOC reached out to 60 local Latinx/e- and Asian-serving providers and organizations, resulting in resource distribution, information-sharing, and new workgroup membership. Any organizations interested in partnering can email [email protected].  
  4. Share this information widely with anyone who may be interested. 

SPOC and the Suicide Prevention Program look forward to working with stakeholders and the community in this ongoing effort. 

Reports and downloads

Suicide Data Report in Santa Clara County

Suicide is an important public health concern impacting people from all strata of life and results in long-lasting negative effects on individuals, families, and communities. Suicide is one of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S and Santa Clara County. On top of thousands of people dying due to suicide each year nationwide, many more consider attempting suicide and/or receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries.

VIEW DATA