Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program

Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program is an intervention-based program. The main goal is to enhance protective factors aimed at reducing suicide. In this program, three phases are implemented: school and community preparation, the recruitment of students to act as peer leaders alongside adult advisers, and school wide messaging. In the final phase, peer leaders engage with trusted adults and circulate messages about the intervention through multiple platforms.

As a team, we thought this would be a helpful promising practice to implement because of its focus on teen suicide prevention. The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) discussed the abundance of emergency room visits that occur due to adolescent suicide and intentional self-inflicted injury within the Bloomington-Normal community. Additionally, data we collected from social media further emphasized the importance of this issue within the community. This promising practice yielded encouraging results in decreasing the stigma associated with mental health and reaching out for help. It can be implemented district-wide in middle schools, high schools, colleges and even within the community. Our hope is that this promising practice will be implemented in Bloomington-Normal with the help of community organizations.

What are the numbers?

$5,000 per school annually
- Before Provisional Trainer becomes certified
$500 annually for returning schools
- After Provisional Trainer becomes Certified Local Trainer
$750 annually for new schools
- After Provisional Trainer becomes Certified Local Trainer
More information
- Costs for training the trainer

This is a map of the Bloomington-Normal community with the points of the non-profit organizations and the different bus routes and bus stops leading to each organization that could potentially take more of a lead on the Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program Promising Practice.

Below is a list of resources that could potentially take more of a lead on this Promising Practice:

McLean County Center for Human Services - The Center for Human Services exists to assist persons in McLean County who are in need of behavioral health services.
Psychology Specialists - This organization helps to provide patients with quality care through a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced nurse practitioners, and licensed therapists.
District 87 Education #17 - School district within the Bloomington-Normal community.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NAMI Mid Central Illinois - A grassroots mental health advocacy organization committed to increasing access to mental health and eliminating the stigma of mental illness.
PATH - A 24-hour crisis hotline
Children’s Home and Aid - A child and family service agency in Illinois that has reach within the community, classroom and home. Dedicated to recovering children’s health.
Behavioral Health Coordinating Council - Advisory group that assesses pressing mental health needs in the area.
Mental Health First Aid Collaborative - Hosts Mental Health First Aid training throughout the county.
Advocate Medical Group Behavioral Health - Offers psychological services to help people of all ages cope with life's challenges. Behavioral health experts provide assessment, testing, medication, counseling for children, and more.