DJ’s Alliance believes in a holistic, evidence-based comprehensive suicide prevention approach and we use the tenants as foundation blocks for our own programming, leaning on the expertise of those who came to this advocacy space before us.

The Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention is a nationally recognized framework developed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) that brings together multiple, interconnected strategies to reduce suicide risk and save lives. Instead of focusing on just one aspect of prevention, it recognizes that effective suicide prevention requires coordinated efforts across the entire continuum of care from identifying and assisting people at risk, to increasing help‑seeking, improving access to care, supporting individuals in crisis, and providing ongoing postvention for those impacted by loss. It also addresses broader public health strategies such as reducing access to lethal means, promoting resilience and strengthening social connectedness. This approach is important because suicide is a complex, multifaceted issue that cannot be solved with a single program or intervention. By working across these different areas in a coordinated and sustained way, communities can create safer environments, reduce risk factors, and build strong networks of support that ultimately save lives.

Here’s how DJ’s Alliance works within this framework:

DJ’s Alliance recently spearheaded grassroots efforts to establish an Office of Suicide Prevention in Delaware – and won! We hope this office operates under a similar framework, utilizing each of these categories to the best of its ability, so leaders can also work to provide a Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Approach at the state level and create a safer and healthier Delaware!

Identify and Assist Persons at Risk
DJ’s Alliance in Delaware focuses on suicide loss survivors, a known high‑risk group, and those who support us. In fact, loss survivors are 65% more likely to attempt suicide than our peers grieving another kind of loss.

We actively accept self-referrals to our individual and group peer programming efforts and referrals from community members, mental health providers and first responders who are supporting those at risk through their newfound situations.

Once referred, leaders at DJ’s Alliance connect suicide loss survivors with trained members of our LOSSTeam, the only one currently in the state of Delaware, who provide peer mentor support to the individual and/or family with resources quickly after a loss. We maintain connections as much as possible and as needed for continued support, versus a one-time contact.

We often connect with organizations and entities that promote support for marginalized communities and those at higher risk of suicidality, too, such as communities focused on our LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and youth neighbors, plus others as they arise. DJ’s Alliance is proud of our unique and diverse board, as well as our youth council.

We are currently advocating for the placement of postvention policies in school settings which would address all of the categories in this approach.

Increase Help‑Seeking
DJ’s Alliance now also offers Hope Huddles, our peer-led support groups, to normalize help seeking and we provide personalized follow-ups from peers after our initial outreach to encourage participation in counseling, groups, crisis lines and other resources. We use storytelling, media outreach and advocacy to reduce stigma around grief and mental health support.

We actively promote crisis resources and hope that our recently legislative wins increase help-seeking by removing stigma around mental health.

Ensure Access to Effective Mental Health and Suicide Care and Treatment
DJ’s Alliance curates and distributes care packages with grief‑specific resources for families and/or individuals in Delaware that are dealing with a new suicide loss. Packages include crisis resource information, as well as a safety plan guide and resources specific to suicide loss. Peers can help direct new survivors to counseling options and other resources.

We maintain partnerships and frequent connections with therapists, grief counselors, community mental health agencies, first responders and health care entities in the First State. We also promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other relevant crisis resources at all events and in all outreach materials.

We are currently advocating for an improved mental health workforce in Delaware, including lower barriers to entry (but not decreased standards of care and expectations).

Support Safe Care Transitions and Create Organizational Linkages
DJ’s Alliance collaborates with first responders, hospitals, mental health teams and advocates, school districts and crisis teams to connect survivors to DJ’s Alliance immediately after a loss. We actively participate in several groups to ensure survivors are continually liked to professional and peer support as needed, including:

• The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition
• Advocates in Mental Health
• Delaware’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) through the Delaware Health & Social Services’ (DHSS) Department of Public Health (DPH)
• Be_The_1 Campaign through Transitions Delaware
• The Advisory Board for Bayhealth’s Behavioral Health team
• The Advisory Board for Wilmington University’s new associate’s degree in Applied Behavioral Health
• Delaware Prevention Partners
• LOSSTeam – This is a national grassroots effort. DJ’s Alliance provides Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors in Delaware.

If you know of a group we should participate in, please let us know!

We are currently advocating to create an improved continuity of care for Delawareans who seek mental health related treatment.

Respond Effectively to Individuals in Crisis
DJ’s Alliance trains LOSSTeam members/peer support volunteers in crisis communication, active listening, grief, trauma and shock, stress symptoms, healthy recovery after a suicide loss and other topics. We strive to reach out to newly referred survivors within 24-48 hours of contact in hopes of minimizing the time it takes to find a path to healing.

We are currently educating first responders and other crisis workers so they can help provide postvention sooner.

Provide for Immediate and Long-Term Postvention
Postvention is our niche! We believe that postvention IS prevention. We operate Delaware’s only LOSS Team, providing in‑person and virtual postvention support immediately after a suicide loss (within 24-48 hours of receiving contact regarding a referred individual or family, often within hours). As described above, we offer long‑term peer-based mentoring and survivor community connections for months or years after the loss and we work with schools, workplaces and community groups as allowed to educate them on how to support suicide loss survivors.

We are currently advocating for a state-based fund for suicide loss survivors so they can access counseling, scene clean-up, funeral expenses and other needs in their moment of crisis.

Reduce Access to Means of Suicide
Through our support for suicide loss survivors and in our community outreach, we often advocate for safe storage of firearms and medications through public awareness and legislative support. At all of our public tabling/outreach events, we offer free gun locks. We also offer these to survivors, especially those who were impacted by firearm suicide and may still have weapons in the home.

We support and participate in policy discussions around means restriction as part of suicide prevention legislation in Delaware. We encourage our peers to chat with their survivors about counseling and other resources, along with safety topics for themselves and other household members.

Our founder has participated in roundtable discussions and advocacy efforts with groups such as the Coalition for a Safer Delaware, Brady and Moms Demand Action, highlighting the intersectionality of gun violence prevention and suicidality.

We are currently advocating for increased barriers and signage opportunities on Delaware bridges.

Enhance Life Skills and Resilience
DJ’s Alliance has hosted workshop and outreach sessions to promote community-based resilience and we encourage survivors to develop and share their own coping, self-care and healing strategies in peer groups. Through creative expression, remembrance activities and community volunteering, we continue to promote resilience for ourselves and those we serve – a visual representation of hope in action.

We are currently advocating for second-parent adoption in Delaware which would greatly impact resiliency for younger families impacted by suicide. We are also advocating for grief education in schools to promote life skills and resiliency in youth.

Promote Social Connectedness and Support
DJ’s Alliance continuously builds ongoing survivor networks through Hope Huddles, events and statewide outreach. We also foster connection through shared advocacy work and supporting suicide prevention legislation. We frequently use storytelling methods via social media and in-person events to remind survivors that they are not alone and that we can strengthen our community together.

We are continually developing our own programming, including our youth council, so we can grow a safe community of loss survivors in Delaware.