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Section III: Adherence to Standards

Section III of the Best Practices Registry (BPR) lists programs, practices, policies, protocols, and informational materials whose content has been reviewed according to current program development standards and recommendations (see the Section III criteria below.) Section III programs and materials are designed for use in specific settings, such as schools, communities, clinics, or campuses, as opposed to Section II statements, which offer general guidance to the field.

Important Note: Inclusion in Section III means only that the content meets the criteria outlined below. The Section III review process does not examine program outcomes.

See Section I: Evidence-Based Programs for programs that have produced positive outcomes related to suicide prevention. While not the same as proven effectiveness, adherence to standards is an important aspect of developing high-quality prevention programs.

Inclusion in Section III does not mean that SPRC and AFSP endorse or recommend these practices. Rather, we recommend that BPR listings be used as one information source in the context of an effective prevention planning process. This listing includes only materials submitted and reviewed according to BPR Section III criteria and is not a comprehensive inventory of all suicide prevention practices.

Section III listings are organized into four categories.

  1. Awareness and Outreach Materials include public service announcements, videos, brochures, and other materials designed to convey basic information, for example, statistics about suicide, the impact of suicide on communities, and the location of services and resources. While an important foundation for prevention, such materials alone are rarely sufficient to prevent suicidal behavior. Effective prevention will usually require more intensive programs that go beyond providing basic information to actually changing underlying risk and protective factors for suicide.
  2. Educational and Training Programs aim to increase knowledge and change attitudes related to suicide prevention. Training programs differ from educational programs in that they typically include the additional objective of increasing participants’ skills to perform prevention-related activities. Generally, to be effective, skill instruction should incorporate role-playing and/or practice.
  3. Screening Programs aim to identify individuals at risk for suicide through standardized instruments or tools and provide those who screen positive with avenues for appropriate referrals and follow-up.
  4. Protocols and policies establish rules or standards that, when implemented, should contribute to a reduction in the risk for suicide for individuals in that setting.

BPR Section III Eligibility and Review Criteria

To be eligible for review, the program must address specific objectives of the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

In addition, program materials must be available to the field through a website or contact person (the BPR posts information about practices, not program materials.)

Each practice is rated on 15 criteria:

Section III Application Guidelines (PDF) – This document contains a detailed description of these criteria.

Three expert reviewers rate each criterion on a scale of 1 (low) to 4 (high). Programs must receive an average score of 3 or greater on each applicable criterion to be added to the BPR. For more information about the review process, see How to Apply to Section III: Adherence to Standards.

Resources Related to BPR Section III Criteria– This resource page lists links and resources for developing suicide prevention content that is accurate, likely to meet objectives, and consistent with programmatic and messaging standards in the field. We encourage practitioners to use the Section III criteria in developing suicide prevention efforts whether or not you plan to submit them for BPR review.

To Apply to Section III

Please see How to Apply to Section III: Adherence to Standards for detailed information about the Section III submission and review process. This process is designed to be collaborative, and we encourage program developers to contact us with questions after reviewing the application materials

Section III Program Listings: Adherence to Standards

Title Type of Programsort icon Organization
After an Attempt: A Guide for Medical Providers in the Emergency Department Taking Care of Suicide Attempt Survivors Awareness/Outreach National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department Awareness/Outreach National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Yourself After Your Treatment in the Emergency Department Awareness/Outreach National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Depression and Bipolar Wellness Guides for Parents and Teens Awareness/Outreach Families for Depression Awareness
Depression Wellness Guide for Adults with Depression and their Family and Friends Awareness/Outreach Families for Depression Awareness
Preventing Transgender Suicide: An Introduction for Providers Awareness/Outreach Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss: A Guide for Funeral Directors Awareness/Outreach American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Not My Kid: What Parents Should Know About Teen Suicide Awareness/Outreach Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
"Is Your Patient Suicidal?" Emergency Department Poster and Clinical Guide Awareness/Outreach Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Saving Our Lives: Transgender Suicide Myths, Reality and Help Awareness/Outreach Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Parents as Partners: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Parents Awareness/Outreach Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
Suicide: Coping with the Loss of a Friend or Loved One Awareness/Outreach Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
What is Depression? How to Treat It and What to Do--A Suicide Prevention Guide for Young People Awareness/Outreach Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
Supportive Families, Healthy Children: Helping Families with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Children Awareness/Outreach Family Acceptance Project, San Francisco State University
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Education & Training LivingWorks
Ask 4 Help Suicide Prevention for Youth Education & Training Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk: Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals (AMSR) Education & Training SPRC Training Institute
At-Risk for University and College Faculty: Identifying and Referring Students in Mental Distress Education & Training Kognito Interactive
Be A Link Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Education & Training Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
Campus Connect: A Suicide Prevention Training for Gatekeepers Education & Training Syracuse University
Connect Suicide Postvention Training Education & Training NAMI New Hampshire
Connect Suicide Prevention/Intervention Training Education & Training NAMI New Hampshire
EndingSuicide.com Education & Training Med Student Learning
Healthy Education for Life (HELP) Education & Training Heartline Oklahoma
Helping Every Living Person (HELP) Depression and Suicide Prevention Curriculum Education & Training Washington Youth Suicide Prevention Program
High School Gatekeeper Curriculum Education & Training Gryphon Place
LEADS for Youth: Linking Education and Awareness of Depression and Suicide Education & Training Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
LOOK LISTEN LINK: A Health Curriculum for Middle School Education & Training Washington Youth Suicide Prevention Program
Making Educators Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention Education & Training Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
More Than Sad: Teen Depression Education & Training American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention Education & Training QPR Institute
Response: A Comprehensive High School-based Suicide Awareness Program Education & Training ColumbiaCare
Sources of Strength Education & Training Sources of Strength, Inc.
Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK) Education & Training LivingWorks
Army ACE Suicide Intervention Program Education & Training U.S. Army
CALM: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means Education & Training Prevention Center at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth
Gryphon Place Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Program-A Middle School Curriculum Education & Training Gryphon Place
Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians Education & Training American Association of Suicidology
Working Minds: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace Education & Training Carson J Spencer Foundation
Student Support Network Education & Training Worcester Polytechnic Institute
QPRT Suicide Risk Assessment and Management Training Education & Training QPR Institute
Let's Talk Gatekeeper Training Education & Training Massachusetts Department of Public Health
School Suicide Prevention Accreditation Education & Training American Association of Suicidology
More Than Sad: Suicide Prevention Education for Teachers and Other School Personnel Education & Training American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk in Primary Care (RRSR—PC) Education & Training American Association of Suicidology
Operation S.A.V.E.: VA Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Education & Training Veterans Administration
SOS Signs of Suicide Middle School Program Education & Training Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
Suicide Prevention Multicultural Competence Kit Education & Training PACE University Counseling Center
Suicide Prevention Training for Gatekeepers of Older Adults Education & Training Samaritans of Merrimack Valley, MA
Late Life Suicide Prevention Toolkit Education & Training Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health
At-Risk for High School Educators Education & Training Kognito Interactive
Safety Plan Treatment Manual to Reduce Suicide Risk: Veteran Version Education & Training Department of Veterans Affairs
Teens for Life Program: Youth Curriculum Education & Training Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, CA
At-Risk for University and College Students Education & Training Kognito Interactive
How Not To Keep A Secret Education & Training Youth Health Connection
The DORA College Program (Depression OutReach Alliance) Education & Training Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
Survivor Voices: Sharing the Story of Suicide Loss Education & Training NAMI-NH/The Connect Program
LifeSavers Training Education & Training LifeSavers Training Corporation
Family of Heroes: Training for Family Members of Veterans Education & Training Kognito Interactive
Lifelines Intervention: Helping Students At Risk for Suicide Education & Training Hazelden
In Harm’s Way: Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention Education & Training Center for Public Safety Innovation, St. Petersburg College
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) for Law Enforcement Education & Training QPR Institute
At-Risk in the ED Education & Training Kognito Interactive
Connect Youth Leaders: Partnering with Adults in Youth Suicide Prevention Education & Training NAMI New Hampshire
Break Free From Depression: A 4-Session Curriculum Addressing Adolescent Depression Education & Training Swensrud Depression Prevention Initiative
Veterans on Campus Education & Training Kognito Interactive
Online Counseling and Suicide Intervention Specialist Education & Training QPR Institute
At-Risk for Middle School Educators Education & Training Kognito Interactive
Experiential Training in the Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events (CASE Approach) Education & Training Training Institute for Suicide Assessment & Clinical Interviewing (TISA)
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) for Nurses Education & Training QPR Institute
Just Talk About It: Suicide Prevention Toolkit Education & Training CONTACT
Shield of Care: A System-Focused Approach to Protecting Juvenile Justice Youth from Suicide Education & Training Tennessee Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Suicide and Aging: A Gatekeeper's Workshop Education & Training Samaritans of Merrimack Valley, MA
Trevor Lifeguard Workshop Education & Training The Trevor Project
Real Teenagers Talking about Depression: A Video-Based Study Guide Education & Training Erika's Lighthouse
Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) Guidelines & Protocols Screening for Mental Health
Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention Guidelines: A Resource for School Personnel Guidelines & Protocols The Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program
Youth Suicide Prevention School-based Guide Checklists Guidelines & Protocols Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida
Lifelines Postvention: Responding to Suicide and Other Traumatic Death Guidelines & Protocols Hazelden
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools Guidelines & Protocols American Foundation for Suicide Prevention & Suicide Prevention Rescource Center
Riverside Trauma Center Postvention Protocols Guidelines & Protocols Riverside Trauma Center
Interactive Screening Program Screening American Foundation for Suicide Prevention