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About Us

The Westchester County Suicide Prevention Task Force

The Westchester County Suicide Prevention Task Force is comprised of representatives of government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, community members and volunteers.  Our members provide the perspectives of individuals who have lived experience of suicide thoughts and behaviors, those who provide an array of support and other services to the community and interested individuals.  Members include those who work in the range of emergency services, health and behavioral health advocacy and service delivery, those who work in the justice system, child welfare system, schools and veteran services. We share a passion for addressing the risk of suicide in our community through a multi-faceted, coordinated approach.

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Our Vision is to significantly reduce the number of suicides, suicide attempts, and help alleviate the traumatic after-effects of a death by suicide.

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Our Mission is to increase awareness, decrease stigma, and implement and support  programs throughout Westchester County aimed at suicide prevention.

We accomplish this mission through a workgroup structure that directs efforts to:

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  • Increase awareness and knowledge among the target audience of warning signs, risk factors, and interventions to prevent suicide

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  • Encourage the development and application of strategies that reduce the incidence and prevalence of suicidal behaviors.

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  • Provide an organizational structure and support network with specific actions in the event of a complete suicide.

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  • Compile, develop, evaluate and disseminate accurate information about suicidal behavior to the public.

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  • To aid in the decrease of the suicide rate for Westchester County

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The Task Force has received funding for coalition building from the NYS Suicide Prevention Center (SPC), which also provides training and technical support.  Our Task Force participates in SPC regional forums to share and learn from other coalitions best practices.

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The Task Force is co-led by Michael Orth, Commissioner, Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health and Dr. Barbara Bernstein, Chief Planning Officer, MHA of Westchester.

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The Task Force meets quarterly and welcomes new members.  To join or learn more, please contact one of our Co-Chairs.

Organization Membership

  • CareMount Medical

  • Family Services of Westchester

  • Human Development Services of Westchester

  • JED Fountation

  • Mental Health Association of Westchester

  • My Sisters Place

  • NAMI of Westchester

  • NY Presbyterian Hospital

  • NYS OMH-Rockland State Psychiatric Services

  • Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES

  • SISFI (Scudder Intervention Services Foundation Inc.)

  • Southern Westchester BOCES

  • Student Assistance Services

  • St. Vincent’s Hospital/Crisis Prevention Response Team

  • The Harris Project

  • Veteran’s Administration

  • Westchester County Office for Senior Services

  • Westchester Community College

  • Westchester County Office for Women

  • Westchester County Youth Bureau

  • Westchester County Department of Health

  • Westchester County Department of Social Services

  • Westchester County Office for Emergency Management

  • Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health

  • Westchester County Labs and Research (Office of Medical Examiner)

  • Westchester County Medical Center

  • Westchester Jewish Community Services

  • Yonkers Public School District

  • Westchester School Districts

  • Additional Westchester Colleges and Community Advocates

The Suicide Fatality Review Team

Although the Suicide Fatality Review Team pilot has ended, the work of the Team continues to inform the work of Westchester County.

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The review team, instituted under the auspices of New York State Office of Mental Health works with the Suicide Prevention Task Force of Westchester County to implement change indicated by the fatality review process. Learn more about the Fatality Review Team here.

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Goals: 

  • Achieve zero suicides in Westchester County 

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  • Enhance prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts in our community 

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Objectives: 

  • Identify specific barriers and systems issues involved with suicide deaths 

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  • Identify risk factors and trends in suicide deaths for future prevention/intervention efforts as well as looking at the enhancement of potential protective factors 

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  • Develop strategies for increased communication and coordination of delivery of services to survivors of suicide loss

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© Westchester County Suicide Prevention Task Force.

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