What is Zero Suicide?
Zero Suicide is a framework for safety and quality improvement in health care, rooted in the belief that suicide deaths among people receiving care in health systems are preventable. Established in 2012 by national experts in suicidology and public health, the framework’s name reflects an aspirational goal and bold challenge to hospitals, primary care, behavioral health providers, and public health agencies. Rising rates of suicide in Colorado and across the country demonstrate the urgent need for a more robust approach, and Zero Suicide offers a conceptual framework for health systems to implement evidence-based strategies and continuously improve performance.
Visit the Zero Suicide website to learn more about the national zero suicide model.
Zero Suicide website
Colorado’s Approach
With support from the state legislature and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) began work on a statewide Zero Suicide strategy in 2017. Adapting the seven-element framework Zero Suicide applies to individual health systems, this approach combines targeted funding for framework implementation in pilot health systems, telephonic follow-up services for people transitioning out of hospital treatment, clinical training, and collaborative learning and community-building efforts led by the OSP.
Zero Suicide Colorado strategic framework
- Encourage system leadership to formally adopt Zero Suicide
- Support policy and practice change at state and local levels
- Sponsor ongoing clinical training opportunities
- Support general awareness training for all staff
- Promote suicide screening and assessment
- Embed protocols in electronic health records (EHR)
- Elevate voices of lived experience to inform health system-based suicide prevention
- Tailor services to meet client needs
- Increase adherence to evidence-based standards of care in all settings
- Expand the use of peer support and recovery services
- Support care coordination efforts
- Provide telephonic caring contact post-ED discharge via Colorado Follow-Up Project
- Track process and outcome metrics to drive performance
- Facilitate supportive monthly learning collaborative discussions
Join Zero Suicide Colorado
All Colorado health systems are welcome to join monthly learning collaborative discussions, explore training and networking opportunities, and connect with the OSP about challenges and opportunities in suicide prevention. Please email Conlin.Bass@state.co.us to learn more and get involved.
Are you a hospital system participating in the Health Quality Incentive Program?
A Workplan Template was created to guide implementation efforts and satisfy HQIP requirements exclusively for hospital systems participating in the Health Quality Incentive Program (HQIP).
- Workplan Template. (PDF)
Getting Started
Zero Suicide Organizational Self-Study
Looking for a place to start your implementation? Are you a year or two into your Zero Suicide implementation and interested to see how far you’ve come and gather information about potential next steps?
The Organizational Self-Study will help you understand where your organization stands in providing safer suicide care across all 7 elements. It’s a great tool to use annually.
Learn more and get started:
- Organizational Self-Study. (Zero Suicide website)
After seeing where your system stands, you can make a plan to transform and improve its suicide care by implementing the Zero Suicide framework! Use the Workplan Template to start setting goals and mapping out the progress of the initiative.
- Workplan Template. (PDF)
Learning Collaborative Resources
The OSP hosts a monthly virtual Learning Collaborative for health systems on the fourth Thursday of each month from 10 - 11 a.m. These meetings cover a range of topics that can bolster your Zero Suicide implementation efforts, from elevating lived experience in your system to incorporating brief interventions in acute care to improve health outcomes. Come for the opportunity to learn from amazing guest speakers and experts in the field; stick around to be connected with a network of health systems all working together to improve safer suicide care for their patients.
Call for 2025 Zero Suicide Learning Collaborative Meeting speakers
We currently have openings for speakers. We are particularly interested in presentations with a focus on:
- innovative strategies
- best practices
- equity in action
- ZS framework implementation
- lived experience related to zero suicide initiatives
Are you an expert in research, clinical practice, policy development, or community engagement? Those with diverse perspectives are welcome and encouraged to submit a speaker interest form for consideration.
Speaker interest form
2025 Meetings and Past Meeting Archive
| Month | Topic | Meeting Recording | Slides and Shared Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | Behind the Words: Addressing Non-Disclosure of Suicidal Ideation in Emergency Mental Health Care presented by Laura L. Walsh, Psy.D. | Recording | Presenter Slides (PPT) |
| February 2025 | Hospital Follow-Up Project presented by CU School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry | Recording | Presenter slides. (PDF)
|
| March 2025 | Learning to Embrace Joy After Decades of Depression and a disabling Suicide Attempt, Presented by Shannon Heath Parkin, M.S. CPRS | Recording | Presenter slides. (Google slides) |
| Month | Topic | Meeting Recording | Slides and Shared resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2024 | Suicide, gender, and implications for healthcare | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| February 2024 | Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Timeline of Events and Policy and Implications for Suicide Prevention | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| March 2024 | Suicidality Among High-Risk Youth presented by Fully Liberated Youth (F.L.Y) | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) Presenter Training (PDF) |
| April 2024 | Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale presented by Dr. Kelly Posner | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| May 2024 | Lived Experience and Research on Suicide & Adoptees presented by Lina Vanegas | Recording | |
| June 2024 | Effective Organizational Postvention Response for Mental Health Professionals | Recording | Presenter slides (PDF) |
| July 2024 | Suicide x Spirituality: Tending to the Soul presented by Jamari White | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (Google) |
| August 2024 | Partners for Children’s Mental Health: Suicide Care Pathways, Screening Tools, and Safety Planning for Youth | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (Google Slides) Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| September 2024 | Breaking Boundaries in Suicidality Assessment and Intervention presented by Alyssa Wright, LCSW, EMDR, Level 1 IFS Trained | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (Google) |
| October 2024 | Maternal Suicide Prevention in Colorado | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| November 2024 | Empathic Suicide Prevention Care in Healthcare Settings | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| December 2024 | Targeted Suicide Risk Screening & Assessment Among People Experiencing Homelessness presented by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| Month | Topic | Meeting Recording | Slides and Shared resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2023 | Trauma-Informed Care and ZS Implementation | Recording |
|
| February 2023 | Change Management and ZS Implementation | Recording | MHTTC Slide Deck (PDF) OSP Slide Deck (PDF) |
| March 2023 | Health System-Level Improvements for Healthcare Worker Wellbeing | Recording | MHTTC Slide Deck (PDF) OSP Slide Deck (PDF) |
| April 2023 | Meeting the Mental Health Needs of the Agricultural Community | Recording | |
| May 2023 | Eating Disorders and Suicidality | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (PDF) Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| June 2023 | Valley Settlement's Alma Program: Considerations for Maternal Mental Health and Peer Support Programs | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (PDF) Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| July 2023 | Providing Care for Patients Experiencing Chronic Pain, Substance Use, and Suicidality | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (PDF) |
| August 2023 | Disability, Ableism, and Suicidality in Disabled and Chronically Ill Communities | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (PDF) |
| September 2023 | Self-Assessment for Modification of Anti-Racism Tool (SMART) | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (PDF) |
| October 2023 | ZS Colorado Updates, RFA Release, and Needs Assessment | Recording | Office of Suicide Prevention Slides (PDF) |
| November 2023 | Updates to COMPACT Act and Rocky Mountain Crisis Partner's Follow-Up Project | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) |
| December 2023 | Peer Support and Alternatives to Suicide from the Yarrow Collective | Recording | Presenter Slides (PDF) Presenter Resources (PDF) |
| Month | Topic | Meeting Recording | Slides and Shared resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | These are not normal times; how to be well anyway | Recording | Resilient Colorado Slides — Mental Health & Wellness During a Pandemic |
| February 2022 | Postvention | Recording | NORC at University of Chicago's Postvention Slides OSP's slides |
| March 2022 | National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center | Recording | National Hispanic and Latino PTTC Suicide Prevention Resources Learning Collaborative Slides |
| April 2022 | Lessons Learned in ZS Implementation from Centura Health | Recording | Learning Collaborative Slides |
| May 2022 | Zero Suicide Implementation at UC Health | Recording | Zero Suicide Presentation UCHealth 2022 5-25-22 OSP Learning Collaborative Slides |
| June 2022 | Authentic Community Engagement to Build Rapport with Immigrant and Refugee Communities, and Connecting Systems of Care | Recording | |
| July 2022 | Using the Zero Suicide Toolkit at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless | Recording | |
| August 2022 | Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) | Recording | |
| September 2022 | Zero Suicide Learning Collaborative: Suicide prevention in the Construction Industry | Recording | |
| October 2022 | Affirming and Culturally Responsive Care for LGBTQ+ patients, from Envision : You | Recording | |
| November 2022 | Culturally Responsive ZS Implementation | Recording | |
| December 2022 | Professional Well-Being: How to Transform “Self-Care” Initiatives | Recording |
| Month | Topic | Meeting Recording | Slides and Shared Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2021 | Incorporating and Elevating the Voice of Lived Experience |
| Slides and Resources
|
| March 2021 | Main session: Brief Interventions to Prevent Suicide Dr. Craig Bryan, Breakout: Zero Suicide 101 |
| Main Presentation Slides
Breakout Slides |
| April 2021 | Data Use Agreements with Kirk Bol | Recording | Slides
Example Agreements |
| May 2021 | Main Session: Innovations from the Field | Recording | Slides
Example Agreements |
| June 2021 | LGBTQ+ Provider Training, Steven Haden and Donaven Smith from Envision:You | Recording | Slides
Example Agreements |
| July 2021 | Learning Collaborative Needs | Recording | |
| August 2021 | Empowering Lived Experience- Jess Stohlmann-Rainey | Recording |
Additional Resources
|
| September 2021 | Lethal Means Safety, Emmy Betz | Recording | |
| October 2021 | Suicide Care Pathway Development, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Spotlight | Recording | Main Presentation Slides: OSP Slides: Past Presentation Slides: |
| November 2021 | Providing Culturally Competent Care for Veterans | Recording | Main Presentation Slides OSP Slides |
| December 2021 | Getting Creative with ZS Implementation | Recording | JCMH Slides Summitstone Slides OSP Slides |
2019
- Grantee Orientation Webinar, July 22, 2019. (YouTube)
- Grantee Orientation slides, July 19, 2019. (PDF)
- Downloadable Zero Suicide Monthly Progress Report Word Template
Getting to Outcomes: Options for Accessing Data to Help Inform System Improvements: April 22, 2021
Downloadable files
- Video
- Meeting Recording. (YouTube)
Zero Suicide 101: March 25, 2021
Downloadable files
- Video
- Breakout Room Zoom Recording (Sarah Brummet). (YouTube)
- Main Room Zoom Recording (Dr. Craig Bryan). (YouTube)
Incorporating and Elevating the Voice of Lived Experience: February 25, 2021
Downloadable files
- Video
- Meeting Recording. (YouTube)
Planning for ZS-CO in 2021: December 17, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- 12.17.20 ZSLC AVR. (YouTube)
Screening in the Suicide Care Pathway: November 19, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- 11.19.20 ZSLC Recording. (YouTube)
Systems-Centered Language and LC Pathway Project: October 22, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- 10.22.20 ZSLC Recording. (YouTube)
Caregivers, Moral Injury, and Suicide: September 24, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- 9.24.20 ZSLC Recording. (YouTube)
Older Adults and Zero Suicide: August 27, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- 8.27.20 ZSLC Recording. (YouTube)
Service Members, Veterans, _ Military Families: July 23, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- 7.23.20 ZSLC Recording. (YouTube)
LGBTQ+ Challenges and Resources: June 25, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
Learning from Lived Experience of Receiving Care: May 28, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- May 28, 2020 ZS Learning Collaborative Audio. (YouTube)
Health Equity in Suicide Prevention: April 23, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- GMT20200423-153851_Zero-Suici_1920x1080. (YouTube)
Responding to COVID Pandemic: March 26, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Collaborative Safety Planning: February 27, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials
Video
- GMT20200227-164338_Zero-Suici_1920x1080 (1). (YouTube)
Safety Assessments: January 23, 2020
Downloadable meeting materials