Firearm Suicide Prevention Learning Cohort
Challenge
To help seven diverse organizations across the state of Missouri develop and scale human-centered, data-driven firearm suicide prevention programs.
Suicide rates have increased astronomically across the United States over the past twenty years, with suicide now becoming the second-leading cause of death among young people and those 25-34. The most lethal means of suicide is by firearm: 9 out of 10 firearms suicide attempts result in death, and more than half of all suicide deaths result from the use of a firearm.
Solution
Openfields partnered with MFH to support seven organizations, in both rural and urban parts of Missouri, to design and pilot distinct, local interventions for reducing firearm suicides in their community. Openfields designed and facilitated cohort-based learning experiences across a two-year period, helping the organizations learn about firearm suicide prevention, and design contextually-appropriate interventions using the principles of human-centered design. Openfields also supported each organization individually with intensive coaching, technical assistance, and strategic planning, in order to implement those initiatives over a five year period.
>> Read about our Firearm Suicide Developmental Evaluation work in partnership with MFH.
About Missouri Foundation for Health
The mission of MFH is to eliminate underlying causes of health inequities, transform systems, and enable individuals and communities to thrive. Working in partnership with communities and nonprofits, MFH is transforming systems to eliminate inequities within all aspects of health and addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes. The Foundation takes a multifaceted approach to health issues, understanding that strategic initiatives, policy, communications, and research all play a role in creating lasting impact.