Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network - California
(SPAN-California)

The problem of suicide is monumental in California and has been growing significantly over the past three decades. Each year there are approximately 3,000 deaths by suicide in our state, exceeding homicide deaths by 144 percent and exceeding HIV/AIDS deaths by 202 percent. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death. It affects all age groups over age 5 and cuts across all gender, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network-California (SPAN-California) was founded in 1999 as a force for suicide prevention, an arena for collaboration among agencies, and a voice in our state capital. SPAN-California is a non-profit organization existing to reduce suicide by creating awareness, building links between agencies, and advocating legislative policy in support of suicide prevention. Its members and board of directors are dedicated to igniting change in California public policy and erasing the stigma associated with suicide. We are affiliated with SPAN-USA, a nationwide organization working successfully with Congress, the 0US Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote suicide prevention on a national level.

 
 
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SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE IN SACRAMENTO DELIVERS STATE SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN

Californians came together in early May to write the California Strategy for Suicide Prevention at the SPAN-California conference in Sacramento. Individuals representing state government, education, law enforcement, mental health professionals, crisis lines and more, created the state's suicide prevention plan. Click here to view the draft of the California strategy, as outlined with 11 overall goals and 57 specific objectives. This document will be finalized after a period of public comment. To add your input to the plan, click here. We will accept comments on the plan through July, 1, 2004. You can also mail comments to SPAN-California at P.O. Box 235260, Encinitas, CA 92023.

After July 1, SPAN-California will organize a coalition to develop the final plan.

For more about the very exciting and successful Sacramento conference, click here.