National ISsue
Mental Health and Wellness
Keeping children safe in schools, homes, and communities means supporting their emotional and mental well-being, in addition to strengthening gun safety policies.
Expanding Mental Health Services
Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund works to expand access to life-saving mental health services and supports for students, including suicide prevention training and school-based care. Taking care of the whole child, both in physical safety and mental wellness, creates supportive school environments that can reduce the risk of violence toward oneself or others.
Mental illness does not cause gun violence. In fact, people living with mental illness are more likely to be victims of gun violence than perpetrators. Enhancing overall mental health support and services in schools and in communities can help students to lead healthy lives free from violence or self-harm.
Suicide Prevention
Two-thirds of all gun deaths are suicide, and suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people. Suicide is preventable when we know the warning signs of suicide and how to get help.
Sandy Hook Promise’s suite of Know the Signs programs includes training students and teachers how to recognize signs of suicide and social isolation. Our STANDUP Act makes these and other evidence-informed programs available to all schools, regardless of budget size.
66%
Gun deaths are suicide
2nd
Leading cause of death for young people
Mental Health Reform
Sandy Hook Promise was instrumental in the passage of the bipartisan Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 that was passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. This law strengthens federal coordination of mental health resources, increases reporting on mental health parity, advances integrated service delivery, supports the mental health workforce, increases early access to mental health services, promotes suicide prevention, and enacts meaningful reforms to criminal justice systems.
Passing the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016 was a monumental success for Sandy Hook Promise and our partner mental health organizations, including American Psychiatric Association, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American Psychological Association, the Eating Disorders Coalition, Mental Health America, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who worked tirelessly for nearly four years to pass the mental health reform.
Current Issues
Youth Suicide Prevention
Suicide is the leading cause of death among school age youth. We can prevent youth suicide and violence by knowing the warning signs and connecting students with services and supports.
Active Shooter Simulations
Active shooter simulations are distinctly different from active shooter drills.They are especially harmful when they attempt to mimic a real-life shooting.
Help Prevent Suicide
Learn About The STANDUP Act And Prevent Future Suicides And Tragedies.
J. Swanson, E. McGinty, S. Fazel and V. Mays, “Mental Illness and Reduction of Gun
Violence and Suicide: Bringing Epidemiologic Research to Policy,” Annals of
Epidemiology, 25 (2015), 366-376.