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.
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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.
Since its launch in 2024, the Maryland Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in K-12 Schools (MAPSk12) has supported school communities across Maryland in strengthening suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention efforts. Developed by the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration in partnership with Drs. Scott and Donna Poland, MAPSK12 is a practical reference guide designed for K–12 public and private schools.
MAPSK12 provides evidence-informed guidance, practical tools, and resources to help school communities identify and support students at risk, respond effectively when suicide-related concerns arise, and prepare for the tragic loss of a student or community member to suicide. The guide also supports schools and districts in developing, reviewing, and strengthening policies and practices across the continuum of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
Since its release, MAPSK12 has been adopted and implemented by schools across Maryland and shared through numerous statewide presentations and trainings. The guide has also gained recognition beyond Maryland’s school systems, including through collaboration with the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Guidance from AAP informed the expansion of the Universal Release of Information Form to support communication and coordination among healthcare providers, pediatricians, school-based programs, and other professionals serving children and youth. MAPSK12 has also informed the development of asynchronous suicide prevention training for approximately 1,500 school resource officers across the state.
Now, the Maryland Department of Health is releasing an updated edition of MAPSK12 with expanded content, updated guidance, improved accessibility, and additional resources that reflect emerging needs, current evidence, and lessons learned through implementation. Updates include accessible intervention forms, expanded guidance and resources developed in consultation with subject matter experts and community partners, and greater recognition of the roles that spiritual and religious leaders and faith-based communities can play in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
Developed and reviewed in collaboration with subject matter experts, school-based professionals, suicide loss survivors, and community partners, MAPSK12 is designed to support administrators and school leaders, school mental health professionals, teachers and support staff, students and peers, caregivers, and others working to create safer and more supportive school communities.
