BINGHAMTON, NY – In honor of World Suicide Prevention Day, the New York State Office of Mental Health’s (OMH) Greater Binghamton Health Center (GBHC) and Binghamton University announce the creation of the GBHC-Binghamton University Suicide Prevention Partnership.

This partnership was developed to provide suicide prevention education at Binghamton University and GBHC, develop resources for clinicians providing mental health treatment to individuals at risk for suicide, and bring suicide prevention researchers together to collaborate on future projects.

"The Suicide Prevention Partnership offers a great opportunity for both Binghamton University and Greater Binghamton Health Center to work together to make a positive impact in the community," said OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan. "Suicide is a major public health problem and is one of the most preventable causes of death in New York and across the nation. This partnership will allow us to share resources, increase suicide prevention knowledge, provide opportunities for members to gain leadership, and mobilize people to reach a goal of zero suicide at Binghamton University and GBHC."

"Binghamton University is proud to partner with the Greater Binghamton Health Center to tackle what is a complex and serious issue," said Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger. "We hope that this partnership leads to more effective suicide prevention measures and, in the process, helps save lives."

For the past three years, GBHC has been a pilot site for OMH suicide prevention work in psychiatric facilities. This fall, GBHC became one of six mental health programs in the country to pilot the Educational Development Center’s Zero Suicide Breakthrough Series. GBHC developed a relationship with Binghamton University as a result of their attendance together at the Injury Control Research Center for Suicide’s (ISRC-S) Research Training Institute in Rochester, NY. This institute was designed to help suicide prevention researchers and practitioners work together to develop public health strategies for suicide prevention. After this event, GBHC and Binghamton University leadership began a dialogue, which has ultimately led to this mutually beneficial partnership.

In addition to this partnership, GBHC-Binghamton Suicide Prevention Partnership leaders have also been selected to participate in the Suicide Prevention Research Center’s Zero Suicide Learning Collaborative. The learning collaborative brings leaders of suicide prevention projects, from around the country, together in bi-monthly conference calls to share ideas and learn new suicide prevention strategies. Learning collaborative participants were selected based on their commitment to suicide prevention and the progress they have made towards reaching their suicide prevention goals.

The Suicide Prevention Partnership is using a model developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and has become an IHI Open School Chapter. There are 699 IHI Open School Chapters in 69 countries. These chapters provide opportunities for members to gain knowledge and engage and mobilize their community to improve healthcare. The GBHC-BU Open School Chapter is focused on suicide prevention. For more information on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Open School Program, visit http://www.ihi.org/education/ihiopenschool/Pages/default.aspx.

Any individual affiliated with Binghamton University or Greater Binghamton Health Center is invited to participate in this partnership whether or not they have been personally affected by suicide. The partnership meets monthly and provides members with the opportunity to attend an educational presentation on suicide, collaborate with other members on suicide prevention projects, and network with individuals who share common interests in suicide prevention or healthcare improvement. To join the partnership, or for more information, call 607-763-2704.

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or 800-799-4889 for TTY. For a listing of Suicide Crisis Phone Lines by in New York State by County, visit http://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/speak/speakcrisisnumbers.asp.