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Board accepts updated Santa Cruz County suicide‑prevention strategic plan after data briefing
Summary
Supervisors unanimously accepted an updated suicide prevention strategic plan summarizing five strategic aims, new grant‑funded trainings and local data showing a rise in county suicide rate from 13 to 17.1 per 100,000 (2019→2023). Staff will continue coordinating trainings and expand committee representation.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously accepted an updated county Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan and heard staff outline why the update was needed after recent local trends.
Karen Curran, Interim Behavioral Health Director, told the board county suicide rates rose from 13 per 100,000 in 2021 to 17.1 per 100,000 in 2023. Staff said that two state and federal grants — SAMHSA’s Building Hope and Safety and a California Department of Public Health grant — supported development of the updated plan and funded trainings and outreach.
The plan organizes work under five strategic aims: (1) maintain and build local suicide‑prevention infrastructure (data collection, advisory group), (2) strengthen protective factors and reduce stigma (bilingual public messaging and prevention training), (3) improve early identification and intervention (use of evidence‑based screening tools and safety planning, system mapping of crisis services), (4) means‑safety (reduce access to lethal means with partnerships and distribution of lock boxes and naloxone), and (5) postvention (support for survivors of loss and a loss response team).
Curran said the county is offering CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) training to behavioral health providers and has distributed firearm/medication lock boxes at community events. The plan was developed by a multi‑agency team and was reviewed by the county Mental Health Advisory Board before being posted for public comment.
Supervisor DeSerpa moved acceptance of the plan; Supervisor Martinez seconded. The board voted unanimously to accept and to encourage county partners and local organizations to adopt and implement the plan’s recommendations. Staff will pursue continued funding and broaden the Suicide Awareness Committee representation to mirror county geography and populations.
