2022 Suicide Prevention Month (SPM) Outreach Toolkit

September is Prevention Month (SPM). The Department of Defense (DoD) marks SPM with a variety of activities, tools, and initiatives. To support DoD’s efforts, the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) created the 2022 SPM Outreach Toolkit that offers materials and suggestions to help you execute your outreach initiatives during the month and throughout the year. As DoD acknowledges suicide prevention is a year-round effort, the tools in the toolkit can be adapted for use during September and year-round.

Who Should Use This Toolkit?

Anyone planning their SPM observance within their installation, unit, or military or veteran community is encouraged to use this toolkit as a guideline for designing their campaign activities. Many of the items in the toolkit can be adapted or modified for different audiences as needed. 

How Should This Toolkit Be Used?

This toolkit will contribute to a more visible and cohesive SPM recognition, which will benefit DoD and the military community. The toolkit provides content and materials to aid in planning an SPM campaign for your community.  A community can be Service members, veterans, DoD civilians, their families, and installations, ships, squadrons, etc.  Though the toolkit provides a framework, communities should feel free to get creative! DoD and DSPO especially encourage ideas and initiatives that promote and reinforce the theme Connect to Protect: Support is Within Reach. For any questions, contact DSPO at osd.dspo.outreach@mail.mil.

Spread the Word

We encourage you to take steps in September and throughout the year to promote the theme Connect to Protect: Support is Within Reach among Service members, veterans, DoD civilians, and military families. Every person has a part to play in reaching out, fostering connectedness, and preventing suicide. Please join us during September by participating in suicide prevention activities and programs within your community. Share the toolkit with others in your community, and brainstorm new ways to spread suicide prevention messages during September and beyond.

If you're communicating on social media, use the following hashtags to join the conversation: #ConnectToProtect, #SPM22, and #BeThere. Don’t forget to tag us!