Suicide Mortality Review

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has partnered with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to continue efforts around the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. States, territories, and communities with existing Governor’s & Mayor’s Challenge teams have the opportunity to participate in a technical assistance process to support the planning and development of Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) efforts.

A Suicide Mortality Review Committee (SMRC) is a collaborative group of individuals that evaluate suicide deaths in a particular location or jurisdiction with the intent of identifying risk factors for and protective factors against suicide deaths that are unique to that location. The goals of an SMRC include:

• Conduct analyses of identified deaths within a state, territory or community
• Collect data that can help identify common trends among cases
• Report findings in a clear, accessible and consistent manner
• Make recommendations to key decision makers that will inform specific interventions intended to reduce the number of suicide deaths

VA / SAMHSA SMR Teams 2023-2024

This map illustrates the 19 States and Territories and 2 communities across the country that have participated, or are participating, in VA/SAMHSA Suicide Mortality Review Academy process in 2023 and 2024. Communities are color-coded to indicate which year they participated.

Suicide Mortality Review Academy Overview

Academies represent opportunities for communities to receive specialized technical assistance designed to strengthen behavioral health care systems and services for Service members, Veterans, and their families (SMVF). Through the work of its interagency team and with input from key partners, each team will have an opportunity to develop a plan to implement a SMRC or develop other related SMR efforts in their jurisdiction. This plan is designed to enhance the team’s ability to meet the behavioral health needs of its SMVF by increasing the timeliness, accuracy and quality of location-specific suicide death data and identifying the unique risk and protective factors common among suicide deaths in a particular location.

Promising Practices and Resources for SMR Development

States, Territories and Communities who are considering implementing Suicide Mortality Review Committees within their jurisdiction may benefit from reviewing the following resources:

• VA/SAMHSA Promising Practices for Suicide Mortality Review Committees Toolkit (PDF | 3.4)
• New York State Suicide Fatality Review Toolkit

Resources from the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention

• Program Manual for Child Death Review (PDF | 7 MB)
• FIMR Manual, A Guide for Communities (PDF | 8.7 MB)