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Government departments and agencies are making suicide prevention a nationwide focus. Serving private, personalized messages right before doctor appointments can drive important conversations between patients and their providers about mental health.
Are you in a crisis? Help is available. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text TALK to 741741.
The United States is facing a mental health crisis, with the National Institute of Mental Health estimating that more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Why? The COVID-19 pandemic took a significant toll on the mental health of both adults and children. Additionally, the current political and cultural climate has placed further strain on mental well-being, especially as the holiday season approaches—a time that often exacerbates stress, loneliness and emotional distress for many individuals.
Each year, anxiety levels among U.S. adults continue to rise, and recent data suggests about 1 in 5 adolescents report symptoms of anxiety and depression. Perhaps the most sobering statistic is the rate of suicide in the United States. Though suicide rates decreased by 5% between 2018-2020, they returned to their peak in 2022, when more than 49,000 people lost their lives to suicide, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
To address this crisis—specifically the increased rate of suicide—a federal Interagency Work Group composed of more than 20 agencies in 10 federal government departments recently released the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy), a 10-year, comprehensive approach to suicide prevention at the national, state, tribal, local and territorial levels, along with a Federal Action Plan (Action Plan), which outlines specific measures that federal departments and agencies will implement to meet the goals outlined in the National Strategy.
Making suicide prevention a nationwide effort
Many individuals who have struggled with suicidal ideation or survived an attempt later express interventions from others saved their lives, as the journey through mental health challenges often feels like a roller coaster of ups and downs. Additionally, data from Harvard University suggests that 9 out of 10 people who attempt suicide and survive will not go on to die by suicide later. This research emphasizes the importance of suicide prevention and interventions.
More than 2,000 experts—each of whom represented diverse geographic areas, races and ethnicities, and lived experiences—contributed to the National Strategy and Action Plan, according to Dr. Vivek Murthy, Vice Admiral, U.S. Public Health Service and Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The 2024 National Strategy builds upon a plan first written in 2001 and updated in 2012. It includes 15 goals and 87 objectives organized under four strategic directions:
Strategic direction 1: Community-based suicide prevention
The first strategic direction focuses on developing sustainable, community-based suicide prevention strategies through collaborative partnerships. It also emphasizes integrating suicide prevention into workplace culture and other community settings. Additionally, it calls for research-informed communication strategies that are tailored to diverse communities.
Strategic direction 2: Treatment and crisis services
The second strategic direction centers on implementing effective suicide prevention services as a core component of healthcare and improving the accessibility of crisis care services in all communities.
Strategic direction 3: Surveillance, quality improvement and research
The third strategic direction emphasizes the importance of promoting and supporting research on suicide prevention and improving the quality, timeliness and accessibility of data needed for suicide-related research.
Strategic direction 4: Health equity in suicide prevention
The fourth strategic direction aims to incorporate health equity into all suicide prevention efforts, prioritizing support for populations disproportionately affected by suicide, with a special focus on historically marginalized communities, young people, and individuals with suicide-centered lived experiences, such as those who have had or are currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, who have survived one or more suicide attempts or who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Utilizing personalized, digital messages for mental health and suicide prevention awareness
Primary care providers (PCPs) are typically the first point of contact for patients with mental health concerns. Many PCPs will ask patients if they are feeling anxious or depressed, or if they have had thoughts of suicide, as part of an annual physical or screening. However, a provider can only help if a patient is open and honest about their struggles and symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental illness.
Reaching patients with personalized messages—right before they see their doctor and when they are in a healthcare state of mind—about the importance of prioritizing their mental health and asking for help can make a significant impact. Phreesia recently collaborated with the Ad Council to bring three public health campaigns about mental health directly to patients and caregivers. Collectively across the campaigns, Phreesia has delivered more than 430,000 messages, spreading awareness about the importance of youth and adult mental health and encouraging more open conversations about mental health. The content included educational information, resources and fact sheets about the importance of mental health and tips for discussing it with their peers, children and healthcare providers.
These campaigns have seen great results, specifically among teenagers and young adults. In a year-long “Seize the Awkward” campaign focused on educating young adults about how to identify when a friend may be struggling, Phreesia delivered more than 255,000 messages to young adults ages 18 to 24 who consented to receive content. Nearly half of the patients surveyed who saw the campaign said they were very likely to search for more information about how to support a friend’s mental health, and 60% said they were now likely to reach out to a friend about their own mental health.
These are significant results, as suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10-34. Studies show that loneliness and low social support are associated with an increased risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation, and research indicates that social connection and support from partners, friends and family, and healthcare providers can be a protective factor against suicide and self-harm.
In another campaign in partnership with the Ad Council, Phreesia delivered more than 117,000 messages to Black and Hispanic men who consented to receive content about taking care of one’s mental health. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death in Black males, and research indicates that the suicide rate among Black males has increased in recent decades. Suicide rates have also grown significantly among Hispanic populations. The “Love, Your Mind” campaign generated more than 5,600 requests for follow-up resources, and, after viewing the campaign content, 60% of surveyed men said they intended to talk to their doctor about how to manage their mental well-being.
The 2024 National Strategy states that “how we talk and message about suicide and suicide prevention matters” and that “the framing we use has the potential to open a door to dialogue, understanding and support.” Delivering critical mental health information and resources to patients can drive these important conversations between patients and their providers, leading to better outcomes and improved wellbeing.
Learn how Phreesia can help deliver campaigns that promote suicide prevention efforts and mental health awareness.
