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Welcome to the
Best Practices Registry!

Every program or intervention listed on the Best Practices Registry (BPR) has been reviewed by our experts to ensure it aligns with the most current guidance on preventing suicide. Each listed program or intervention has demonstrated effectiveness in preventing suicide or directly addressing factors that impact suicide prevention.

Click here if you are interested in applying to have your program or intervention listed on the BPR.

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Choosing a suicide prevention program or intervention from the BPR

 

Suicide prevention efforts are most effective when they are guided by a strategic planning process. Strategic planning can help you focus your prevention efforts on the specific risk and protective factors in your community, identify activities that will be effective in preventing suicide in your context, and prioritize your efforts to achieve maximum impact.

As you are looking through the programs and interventions on the BPR, remember to keep your specific group(s) of focus, setting(s), and/or goals in mind. Be sure to look for programs and interventions that are appropriate for the group(s) you are trying to reach and that address the risk and protective factors you’ve identified in your needs assessment.

Here are some tips for selecting programs or interventions:

  • Start with a needs assessment. Before consulting the BPR, conduct an assessment of the issue of suicide, risk and protective factors, and current efforts in your area.
  • Avoid simply “picking from the list.” Registries like the BPR are useful tools, but they are not substitutes for thoughtful data-driven strategic planning.
  • Assess relevance. Look for programs and interventions that address the underlying risk and protective factors that are relevant in your context.
  • Consider practical fit. Choose programs and interventions that fit your area’s groups, settings, and goals and that are feasible in terms of your capacity, resources, and readiness to act.

Approved Programs vs. Selected Programs

Approved Program

BPR Approved Programs are programs and interventions that have been approved for inclusion on the BPR through the full BPR application process. These programs and interventions have been reviewed to ensure a focus on safe messaging around suicide, appropriate protocols for addressing imminent suicide risk, and documented evidence of effectiveness in achieving their goals and objectives.

A BPR Approved Program attests that its program or intervention has been implemented as described with at least one intended group in at least one of the intended settings within the last five years. All BPR Approved Programs have been reviewed a minimum of three times, including by two independent suicide prevention professionals and at least one individual who identifies as having suicide-centered lived or living experience.

For specific questions about the content of a BPR Approved Program, we encourage you to reach out directly to the program or intervention developers.

Selected Program

BPR Selected Programs are programs and interventions that have been selected by BPR staff for inclusion on the BPR based on peer-reviewed research and publicly available information. These programs follow best practices and have documented evidence of effectiveness and outcomes that support their goals and objectives.

It is important to note that BPR Selected Programs have not completed the full BPR application process. As a result, BPR staff cannot attest to the content, implementation materials, training resources, or other elements of BPR Selected Programs.

For specific questions about the content of a BPR Selected Program, we encourage you to reach out directly to the program or intervention developers.