Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Services

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The Allegany County Suicide Prevention Coalition, initiated in 2012, has been recognized by the New York State Office for Mental Health Suicide Prevention Center as a rural model for its overall effectiveness, successful programming and use of professional and community-based training to build a Rural Suicide Safety-Net.

Utilizing evidence-based programs the Allegany County Suicide Prevention Coalition is working to enhance awareness of suicide risk factors, warning signs, improve strategies to keep at-risk individuals safe during crisis, and formalize appropriate responses to a death by suicide.

Suicide Risk Factors

Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life. The more risk factors, the higher the risk.

Health Factors:
  • Mental health conditions
    • Depression
    • Bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder
    • Schizophrenia
    • Borderline or antisocial personality disorder
    • Conduct disorder
    • Psychotic disorders, or psychotic symptoms in the context of any disorder
    • Anxiety disorders
  • Substance abuse disorders
  • Serious or chronic health condition and/or pain

Environmental Factors
  • Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
  • Access to Lethal Means including firearms and drugs
  • Prolonged Stress Factors which may include harassment, bullying, relationship problems, and unemployment
  • Stressful Life Events which may include a death, divorce, or job loss
Historical Factors
  • Previous Suicide Attempts
  • Family History of Suicide Attempts

Suicide Statistics

The American Foundation for Suicie Prevention reports Suicie as the 12th leading cuase of death in New York, and the 2nd and 4th leading cause of death for ages 15-34 and 35-54 respectively. New York ranks 50th out of 52 states, likely indicating that mental health awareness and suicide prevention measures are helping our state's population. But, numbers of death by suicide are increasing, and we must continue to bolster our efforts to keep our friends and family safe.

Suicide Prevention Hotlines

If your life or someone you know is in imminent danger, please CALL 911.
If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call:

Crisis Text LIne: Text HOME to 741741