Suicide Prevention Working Group
The Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention, the first and only Center for Suicide Prevention at a school of public health, is engaged in multidisciplinary approaches to preventing suicide using population-based and individual approaches. Our group aims to serve as a national resource on public health approaches to suicide with robust suicide prevention research and training opportunities.
History
In 1967, Johns Hopkins received one of National Institute of Mental Health’s first grants specifically to establish a formal two-year Fellowship Program in Suicidology (the study of suicide). The pioneering program was led by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the School of Hygiene and Public Health (now the Bloomberg School of Public Health), and others, designed to bring together and prepare postgraduates from diverse disciplines for leadership in treating, teaching, researching, and developing policy toward preventing suicide. At that time there were approximately 21,000 suicides per year in the United States. By 2022 the number of suicide deaths in the United States had more than doubled, indicating a dire need for a public health approach suicide. In recognition of this critical need, in 2024, the Bloomberg School of Public health established the first Center for Suicide Prevention in a School of Public Health in the World.
Vision
To provide national and international leadership to prevent suicide by leveraging the tools and methodologies of public health.
Mission
We aim to advance and harmonize evidence-based public health approaches to suicide prevention and address the rising rates of suicide and related inequities. By doing this we aim to serve as a resource for policymakers, federal and local partners, and families bereaved by suicide.
Support our work
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