As we worked with our designer to develop Prevent Suicide GA, there was a moment when I struggled to find the right words to match the images that display at the bottom of the pages. I looked at the family in one of the photos over and over, surveying their smiling faces, trying to find a way to tie this moment of love and joy to the topic of suicide. It took a while, but eventually, the realization came. This is a future without suicide. A child who has not experienced the pain of losing their father or mother. A couple who will live their lives without the loss of their spouse or their child to suicide. This is what life could look like if we were able to help people get the support they need to live full and happy lives.

It is a lofty goal, for certain. However, we learned through Zero Suicide that, while zero suicides may not always be 100% achievable, we can set an aspirational goal and strive toward it in the way we approach care. The same can be said for our communities, workplaces, and schools. When we imagine a future without suicide, we seek to build communities where people feel comfortable talking about suicide, support systems where individuals can get the care they need, and resources that foster long-term recovery.

We hope Prevent Suicide GA will be a tool to help you promote awareness, encourage open and honest conversations, and provide meaningful support to those who need it most, and that you will join us in imagining a future without suicide.

Erin Conaway
Suicide Prevention Specialist