How Suicide Prevention Services Began

In 1997 the board of S.O.S. began convening community forums on the need for more prevention and intervention for at-risk persons not yet identified in the mental health system. Out of these community meetings, Suicide Prevention Services (S.P.S.) incorporated on May 29, 1998.

Since then S.P.S. it has formed partnerships with many community agencies: Aurora University, Kane County Health Department, Cities in Schools, Inc., 708 Board for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Funding, Mutual Ground, A.I.D., police and fire departments, and schools. The goal of S.P.S. is to reduce suicide risk and completions by massive public education, depression screening, and early identification and intervention before a crisis. Advocacy and collaboration have always been the community methods used--hence the name "services" and not "center." National partnerships continue with American Association of Suicidology, Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network, and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In the summer of 1999, combined local and national forces led to the Surgeon General's Call to Action for Suicide Prevention, which encourages Congressional forces to allocate specific funds for suicide prevention.

In the spring of 2000 our own Stephanie Weber was awarded the year 2000 honor of becoming the National Suicide Survivor of the Year by American Association of Suicidology for her dedicated and tireless work to help survivors and to establish new programs in the field of prevention in the Aurora area.