Suicide Prevention

The Office of Suicide Prevention does not provide counseling, crisis, or emergency care. If you want to talk, contact 988. For immediate help, call 911.

Follow us on social media: @mdhsuicideprev

At the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), we recognize that behavioral health is not a set of isolated issues but a complex, interconnected reality that impacts individuals, families, and communities in profound ways. Our office within BHA is entitled Integrated Wellness and Prevention, which houses the Suicide Prevention Program, the Problem Gambling Prevention Program, and the Substance Use Prevention Program.

Suicide, problem gambling, and substance use are deeply linked; they are all influenced by mental health, trauma, economic stressors, and social determinants of health. Addressing these challenges separately creates gaps in care. Instead, we focus on Integrated Wellness and Prevention, ensuring that individuals receive compassionate, coordinated support that meets them where they are rather than compartmentalizing their struggles.

By combining evidence-based strategies, community partnerships, and a commitment to person-centered care, we aim to treat people as whole humans, not in silos. Whether it’s through reducing stigma, increasing access to resources, or strengthening community-driven solutions, we work to create a Maryland where everyone has the support they need to thrive.

Join us in promoting Suicide Prevention Awareness Month!

Dear Marylanders,

Prevention is about more than responding in moments of crisis. It begins earlier by creating opportunities for connection, reducing stigma, supporting wellness, and making sure people know where and how to find help.

The Office of Integrated Wellness and Prevention, formerly the Office of Suicide Prevention, works year-round to promote mental well-being, prevent suicide, problem gambling, and substance use through education, partnerships, training, and public awareness efforts.

Each year, we lead Maryland’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Month campaign to bring communities together and share practical tools that strengthen connection and build hope. This year, we invite you to explore the updated Connecting to Hope Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Toolkit and join us in creating communities where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to reach out.

According to the Vital Statistics Administration, Maryland, suicide remains a serious public health concern and a deeply personal one. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and affects people of all ages, races, ethnicities, identities, and communities.

Why Hope Matters

Hope is more than optimism. Hope is the belief that support exists, that change is possible, and that life can still hold meaning during difficult times. Connection to ourselves, to friends and family, to community, and to resources can help people feel supported and can make the difference between isolation and reaching out.

You do not need to feel hopeful all the time to connect to hope. Sometimes hope looks small: taking a walk, texting a friend, rereading a favorite book, attending an event, or simply choosing to rest. Pay attention to the things you are still willing to do, even during difficult moments. That is often where hope begins.

Ways to Connect to Hope

988 Day

September 8 is 988 Day, a national day of awareness and action that reminds us that support is available before a crisis becomes an emergency. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects people to trained counselors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you are experiencing emotional distress, concerned about someone else, or simply need support navigating a difficult moment, help is available.

This year, we encourage Marylanders to save 988 in their phones, share it with someone they care about, and use the day as an opportunity to start conversations about mental health, hope, and reaching out early. If you would like to help spread the word about 988, navigate to our Digital Materials section for social media posts to share on your platforms. We hope you will join us in saving lives across Maryland.

Connecting to Hope Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Toolkit

You can download, read, and share the updated “Connecting to Hope” Suicide Prevention Awareness Toolkit (bit.ly/ConnectingtoHope).

Included in the toolkit are resources and media templates that can be shared widely, such as:

Warning Signs of Suicide
Risk Factors for Suicide
Protective Factors for Suicide
Lethal Means Safety
Navigating the Behavioral Health System
How to connect to yourself, others, and the community

Engage with Suicide Prevention Efforts Across Maryland

Start a conversation about mental health with someone
Download and read the Maryland Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in K–12 Schools
Visit SAMHSA’s 988 Day Website
Join us for a Wear Yellow event on September 10th, World Suicide Prevention Day
Join a Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Walk (see the drop-down menu below!)
Download the Suicide Prevention Month digital materials, including backgrounds, stickers, and social media posts, to help share messages of hope. You can find these resources in the “Digital Materials” section of the Connecting to Hope toolkit, below, linktr.ee/mdhsuicideprevention, or Dropbox. If you have issues downloading these assets, please email our office.

Alt text: Graphic promoting Suicide Prevention Awareness Month digital and promotional assets. Examples include a downloadable T

For information about suicide prevention resources, conferences, training, and events, please sign up for our newsletter, visit linktr.ee/mdhsuicideprevention or email your questions to [email protected]. Together, we can prevent suicide!

Connection Starts Here

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and there are many ways to connect with ourselves, with one another and with the communities around us. Across Maryland, people are coming together for walks, trainings, community gatherings, virtual events and more, creating opportunities to learn something new, meet others, spend time with people we care about and be part of something meaningful. Whether you’re looking to learn, reflect, recharge, take action or simply connect, we hope you’ll find an opportunity that feels right for you and join us this September.

IWP Events

Below is a list of our office's events.

World Suicide Prevention Day | September 10

Join the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration for Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to noon in Crownsville. This in-person open house will bring together partners, colleagues and community members to recognize Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, connect with suicide prevention resources and learn more about efforts taking place across Maryland.

Attendees are encouraged to wear yellow in recognition of suicide prevention and hope. Come spend the morning with us, make connections and learn how Maryland communities are working together to strengthen suicide prevention.

Thursday, September 10, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Vendor Set Up: 9:00 AM)
Crownsville, Maryland
In person | Register Here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe00D6QyRb_7x49BzvCnmTV9puw4kr7NEcALR3gTvpWGlSlAQ/viewform?usp=preview

Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention | September 16

See statewide suicide prevention work in action. The Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention brings together leaders, partners and community voices to help strengthen and coordinate suicide prevention, intervention and postvention efforts across Maryland. Commission meetings are open to the public and offer an opportunity to hear updates, learn about current priorities and stay connected to Maryland’s ongoing suicide prevention efforts.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Virtual | Open to the Public

Watch the meeting live on Facebook at @mdhsuicideprevention

Save the Date: 988 and Beyond

What happens when someone contacts 988, and how does that call connect to Maryland’s broader crisis response system?

Join us in late September for 988 and Beyond: What to Expect, When to Call, and How Maryland’s Crisis Response System Can Help, a virtual training designed to help providers and community partners better understand Maryland’s 988 and crisis response system. Presenters Quinita Garrett and Jamie Brill will explore how 988 works, what callers can expect, how Maryland’s crisis services respond to different situations and how providers can help connect people to the right level of support. The training will also include case examples, lived experience and time for questions.

Wednesday, September 30 2026
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Virtual | Free | CEUs - TBD
Registration link coming soon via newsletter and Linktree.

38th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference | October 7

Join us for Maryland’s 38th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference: Holding Space: Maintaining Safe and Supportive Communities Amid Change. This virtual conference brings together professionals, community partners, advocates and people with lived experience for a day of learning, connection and conversation. Hear from experts and leaders exploring strategies to strengthen suicide prevention and create safer, more supportive communities across Maryland.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
8 a.m.–3:45 p.m.
Virtual | $/CEUs - TBD

Registration link coming soon via newsletter and Linktree.

Events Across Maryland

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month (Go Purple) activities are taking place in communities throughout Maryland. To make it easier to find opportunities to connect near you, events below are organized into five regions: Western, Baltimore, Suburban, Eastern, and Southern Maryland, with a separate category for West Virginia and Virtual events available across Maryland this September. Our National Recovery Month events have purple titles.

Western Region Counties (Allegany, Garrett, and Washington)

Never Forgotten Suicide Prevention and Memorial Walk
Date: 9/20/26
Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
Location: Rocky Gap State Park, Mountain View Pavilion
More Information

Recovery and Wellness Walk
Date: 9/23/26
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Allegany College of Maryland, around the track
More Information: Registration available at the walk.

Baltimore Region Counties (Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll, Harford, and Howard)

"Voices of Resilience" Youth Spoken Word Event

Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026

Time: 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Enoch Pratt Free Library (Loch Raven Branch), 4420 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21218

Details: A youth-focused gathering uplifting resilience, expression, and mental health awareness through spoken word and community resources.

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training: In-Person

Date: 9/10/26

Time: 6:00–7:30 PM

Location: Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd, Columbia, MD 21044

Suicide Prevention

World Suicide Prevention Day | September 10

Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention | September 16

Save the Date: 988 and Beyond

38th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference | October 7

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