Statewide Programs

State-Level Lethal Means Safety Initiatives

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ALABAMA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention (Short Version) Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition David Coombs: dwcoombs2002@yahoo.com PowerPoint on the why and how to persuade a person at risk to secure firearms (8 slides)
Firearm Safety and Suicide Prevention (Long Version) Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition David Coombs: dwcoombs2002@yahoo.com PowerPoint on the why and how to persuade a person at risk to secure firearms (27 slides)
Do and Learn: Office Visit Means Safety Practice Challenge Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition David Coombs: dwcoombs2002@yahoo.com Video for primary care providers on how to persuade a patient/clinic at risk to secure her/his firearms by QPR Institute and ASPAR
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition David Coombs: dwcoombs2002@yahoo.com or Suicide Prevention and Resource Center (SPRC) 5 hour training program for mental health providers re. how to counsel a patient to secure lethal means
System Change and Firearm Suicide Prevention American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Meesha Emmett: memmett@afsp.org Appeal to support local and national programs to prevent firearm suicide

 

ALASKA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Statewide Suicide Prevention Council Media Campaign Alaska Department of Health Eric Morrison: eric.morrison@alaska.gov In collaboration with communities, faith-based organizations, and public-private entities, the Council works to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans by reducing suicide and its effect on individuals and communities.

 

ARIZONA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Arizona Suicide Prevention Action Plan Arizona Department of Health Services https://www.azdhs.gov/contact.php Convene community-level listening sessions to solicit input on reducing the number of firearm-related suicides in Arizona, and promote local drug take back events to increase awareness of year-round, fixed-site take back locations

 

COLORADO

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
CALM Office of Suicide Prevention, CDPHE Lena Heilmann: lena.heilmann@state.co.us This course is about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide—and their families—to reduce access.
Office of Gun Violence Prevention Office of Gun Violence Prevention Jonathan McMillan: jonathan.mcmillan@state.co.us N/A
Colorado Gun Shop Project Colorado Firearm Safety Coalition https://coloradofirearmsafetycoalition.org/contact/ Works with retailers, range owners and safety course instructors to add suicide prevention information.

 

CONNECTICUT

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
CT Suicide Advisory Board CT Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services Andrea Duarte: andrea.duarte@ct.gov The state’s suicide prevention advisory and coalition with a Lethal Means Committee focused on firearms, poisoning, signage, etc. Brings together state agencies, Poison Control, NSSF, CT Against Gun Violence, VACT, etc.
CT Clearinghouse CT Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services tfulton@wheelerclinic.org The state’s substance prevention resource center and website with materials and a van that can be scheduled for events

 

HAWAII

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Hawaii Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Hawaii State Department of Health, EMS & Injury Prevention System Branch Zerui Renee Yu: zeruirenee.yu@doh.hawaii.gov Lethal Means Safety is one of our 3 suicide prevention priorities
Community Engagement and Partnership Veteran’s Health Administration Wendy Schwartz: wendy.schwartz@va.gov Provide lethal means safety statewide through VHA programs

 

ILLINOIS

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Firearm Restraining Order/Safe Storage Illinois Department of Public Health Jill McCamant: jill.mccamant@illinois.gov N/A

 

INDIANA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Indiana Governor’s Challenge Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Mental Health and Addiction Bryan Schmidt: bschmidt@dva.in.gov Indiana Governor’s Challenge to prevent suicide among service members, veterans, and their families

 

LOUISIANA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
HB247 Louisiana State Legislature N/A Establishes a tax credit for purchases of firearm safety devices
The Armory Project The Armory Project Gala True: jennifer.true2@va.gov The Armory Project is a partnership with firearm retailers to raise awareness about the problem of firearm suicide, promote secure firearm storage to prevent suicide, and provide temporary storage for Veterans and others
HB260 Louisiana State Legislature vision.nola@gmail.com Provides immunity from civil liability for firearm retailers who offer temporary firearm storage services in the event the person harms themselves or someone else, given the firearm retailer followed the law when returning the firearm

 

MASSACHUSETTS

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
MA Governor’s Challenge Massachusetts Department of Public Health Kelley Cunningham Prevent suicide among service members, veterans, and their families

MAINE

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Training on Lethal Means Safety Counseling Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Sheila Nelson: sheila.nelson@maine.gov Training on lethal means and lethal means safety strategies for providers
Distribution of Lethal Means Safety Planning Cards Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Sheila Nelson: sheila.nelson@maine.gov Development and distribution of lethal means safety cards for use with individuals at risk of suicide and their caregivers
Distribution of Gun Locks Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Sheila Nelson: sheila.nelson@maine.gov Distribution of gun locks in collaboration with the Maine VA

 

MICHIGAN

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Preventing Suicide in Michigan Men Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Kristen Smith: smithk134@michigan.gov Telehealth toolkit that includes means safety and means safety campaigns
Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention University of Michigan firearminjuryprevention@umich.edu N/A
MIMind Henry Ford Health System Dr. Brian Ahmedani: bahmeda1@hfhs.org MI Mind is a statewide partnership with providers and provider organizations. The goal is to prevent suicide and improve outcomes by reducing suicide attempts and deaths.
Child Welfare Firearm Safety Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Seth Persky: perskys@michigan.gov Resources to assist in assuring firearm safety for families in the state of Michigan.

 

MINNESOTA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) Minnesota Department of Health health.suicideprev.mdh@state.mn.us This course is about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide, and their families, to reduce access
Free Gun Lock Distribution Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs suicideprevention.mdva@state.mn.us MDVA is partnering with the VA Health System to distribute free gun locks

 

MISSOURI

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Safer Homes Collaborative Safer Homes Collaborative Katie Ellison (Project Director): katie.ellison@mimh.edu A joint effort between the firearm-owning community and the suicide prevention community to raise awareness that suicide can be prevented through safe firearm storage.
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Trainings Compass Health Network Lauren Moyer: lmoyer@compasshn.org This course is about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide–and their families–to reduce access
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Trainings Missouri Behavioral Health Council Katie Horstman: khorstman@mobhc.org This course is about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide–and their families–to reduce access

 

MONTANA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Safer Communities Montana Montana Department of Health and Human Services Jess Hegstrom: jhegstrom@lccountymt.org SCM is an effort at reducing suicide in Lewis & Clark County through lethal means public awareness and sponsorship from the firearms community
SB423 Montana Legislature N/A An act generally revising liability related to firearm hold agreements; limiting liability for an individual or private entity that returns a firearm to the owner at the end of a firearm hold agreement

 

NEVADA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
SB294 Nevada State Legislature N/A Revises provisions relating to the safe storage of firearms

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Gun Shop Project NH Firearm Safety Coalition Justin Moeling, James Esdon Share materials, developed by and for firearm retailers and range owners, on ways they can help prevent suicide

 

NEW YORK

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Lethal Means Reduction Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York alexi.saldamondo@omh.spcny.org Utilize training for NY clinicians from Suicide Prevention Training Innovation Evaluation’s Clinical Practice Institute that was under the leadership of Dr. Barbara Stanly until 2023 upon her death
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Trainings Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York jenna.heise@omh.ny.gov Utilization of CALM trainings and education for the Zero Suicide model and lethal means education in healthcare settings and with first responder programs
Lethal Means Programming and Education for Veterans Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York garra.lloyd-lester@omh.ny.gov Training and education with state and local coalitions for suicide prevention and veterans initiatives for lethal means conversations and strategies
The Governor’s Challenge for Suicide Prev in Veterans Service Members and Families OMH SPCNY and others garra.lloyd-lester@omh.ny.gov N/A
Lethal Means Education and Training AFSP NY Chapters N/A N/A

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
NC S.A.F.E (Secure All Firearms Effectively) NC Department of Public Safety ncsafe@ncdps.gov Media campaign that promotes safe storage
Firearm Safety Teams NC-DHHS jane.miller@dhhs.nc.gov Supports creation of firearm safety teams to address safe storage on the county and community level
Senate Bill 41 General Assembly of North Carolina N/A Policy to launch a statewide firearm safe storage awareness initiative to educate the public about the importance of the safe storage of firearms, and to facilitate the distribution of gun locks

 

NORTH DAKOTA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
CALM Training Fargo VA Health Care System Sarah Kemp Tabbut Counseling on access to lethal means trainings provided to organizations that request the training
North Dakota Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Service Member, Veteran, and Family Suicide North Dakota Suicide Prevention Coalition Michelle Panos: mgauvinpanos@nd.gov ND Cares is the lead agency (and the ND Suicide Prevention Coalition is a partner) for the ND Governor’s Challenge, which is a multi-agency, state-wide effort to develop and implement suicide prevention best practices for service members, veterans, and their families using the public health approach
Be Smart for Gun Safety Be Smart Lyn Pinnick: lynpinnick@gmail.com Be SMART is a framework that parents, caretakers, and community leaders can follow to help keep their communities safe.

 

OHIO

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Life Side Ohio (LSO) Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation austin.lucas@ohiospf.org LSO partners with gun retailers, veteran-serving organizations, and public safety personnel and agencies to reach a vast array of gun owners in Ohio
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation austin.lucas@ohiospf.org OSPF, through a SAMHSA GLS Grant, holds a series of in-person CALM and Convo CALM Trainings

 

OREGON

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Oregon CALM Live Training Oregon Health Authority Meghan Crane: meghan.crane@oha.oregon.gov Oregon adapted CALM live training under CALM America umbrella
ERPO Oregon Health Authority Meghan Crane: meghan.crane@oha.oregon.gov ERPO in place. Can be requested by family/household member or law enforcement
Addressing Firearm Safety with Patients at Risk of Suicide virtual, on-demand training Oregon Health Authority Meghan Crane: meghan.crane@oha.oregon.gov Free, virtual on-demand training designed to help primary care physicians and other types of health care providers working in rural settings develop better communication skills, comfort, and confidence when having conversations about firearm safety with patients who are suicidal.
People Who Love Guns Love You Brochure Oregon Health Authority Meghan Crane: meghan.crane@oha.oregon.gov Brochure created to engage rural firearm owners based on research
Oregon Firearm Safety Coalition Oregon Firearm Safety Coalition Donna-Marie Drucker: donnamarie.ofsc@gmail.com The Oregon Firearm Safety Coalition (OFSC) mission is to prevent firearm suicides in Oregon through voluntary community-led strategies

 

RHODE ISLAND

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Over the Counter Does Not Mean on The Counter Rhode Island Department of Health https://riprevention.org/contact/ Campaign to encourage safe med storage and disposal. Includes distribution of med lock bags by prevention coalitions
Distribution of Gun Locks (Veterans) Rhode Island Department of Health jessica.stuart.ctr@health.ri.gov Through our SSG Fox Veteran Suicide grant gun locks can be distributed to veterans receiving case management services
Distribution of Locks (Public) Rhode Island Department of Health kelsea.tucker@health.ri.gov Through our GLS Youth Suicide Grant gun locks can be purchased and distributed at public outreach events
Safe Storage Sites Rhode Island Department of Health jessica.stuart.ctr@health.ri.gov We are in the process of identifying sites interested in becoming a safe firearms storage site for individuals who are experiencing mental health crises. We are in the very early phases and have been working with Hold My Guns to bring this model to RI

 

TENNESSEE

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
CALM Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network mhauck@tspn.org Counseling on Access to Lethal Means training

 

VIRGINIA

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Lock and Talk Virginia Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services rebecca.textor@dbhds.virginia.gov and Jordan Brooks: jordan.brooks@regionten.org Lock and Talk promotes lethal means safety and teaches community members how to have conversations about preventing suicide through evidence-based trainings
Keep It Secure US Department of Veterans Affairs N/A The VA Keep It Secure program promotes awareness about the simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family
Governor’s Challenge of Virginia Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services laura.robertson@dbhds.virginia.gov Lock and Talk was adopted as the lethal means safety component of the Governor’s Challenge in Virginia, helping prevent suicides among service members, veterans, and their families

 

VERMONT

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
GunSafe VT Vermont Department of Mental Health Eugenia Cowles, usavt.conntactus1@usdoh.gov Public campaign to promote safe storage of firearms, distribute gun locks, and support temporary storage of firearms outside of a home during times of crisis
Lethal Means Safety Resource Guide: Suicide Prevention Vermont Department of Mental Health Deana Chase, deana@healthandlearning.org Vermont clearinghouse of programs, resources, and support for organizations to promote lethal means safety
Lethal Means Safety Resource Guide: Youth-Focus Prevention Vermont Department of Mental Health Deana Chase, deana@healthandlearning.org Vermont clearinghouse of programs and resources to support lethal means safety with youth, families, and schools
Vermont Emergency Department Suicide Prevention Quality Improvement Initiative Vermont Department of Mental Health Hillary Wolfley, hillaryw@vpqhc.org Statewide initiative to implement Zero Suicide framework within hospital emergency departments (ED) that includes training for ED staff on lethal means counseling and the distribution of free gun locks
Northern New England Poison Control Center and Safe Kids Vermont Vermont Department of Mental Health Gayle Finklestein, gayle.finkelstein@uvmhealth.org Youth self-poisoning and medication safety toolkit and training for medical providers
Be Smart for Kids Be Smart https://besmartforkids.org/about-us/contact-us/  Shares information on keeping families and children safe through secure firearm storage
Vermont Child Health Improvement Program Safe Storage for Primary Care VCHIP Thomas Delaney, thomas.delaney@med.uvm.edu Online training video program that models ways for primary care providers to counsel on safe firearm storage
H.230 Vermont General Assembly N/A An act related to implementing mechanisms to reduce suicide and community violence

 

WASHINGTON

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Suicide Prevention Training for Health Professionals Washington State Department of Health SuicidePreventionPlan@doh.wa.gov Many healthcare professionals are required to take a 6 hour suicide prevention with 30 minutes included on assessing imminent harm via lethal means, including how to talk with patients and their supporters. All pharmacists are required to have this content in a 3 hour course.

 

WYOMING

Program or Policy Name Organization Name Contact Info Description
Firearm Research Center Firearm Research Center N/A Bipartisan group providing messaging and event planning assistance