NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention

07/21/2026

August 7, 2026: 2026 Summer Professional Development (NH Department of Education): FREE Professional development sessions run all day. Certificates of completion included. Sessions include:
School Bullying Prevention and Response
Su***de Prevention
Adult Resilience for School Professionals
Trauma Responsive Classrooms for School Professionals
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=6eotmUwcyEKjEFCIr1W6dP4EVVGs9FZJj8D9gpuCYdZUME9YTkg1MjhMS0VVMDBTQUJGVzhOWjE3Wi4u to learn more and to Register for this FREE Professional Development Day

07/17/2026

Lawmakers press RFK Jr. for stronger oversight of physician-assisted su***de in hospice care....

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to increase oversight of physician-assisted su***de, arguing that stronger monitoring is needed to protect vulnerable patients and ensure compliance with federal law.
Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., joined Reps. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., and Lou Correa, D-Calif., wrote a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz calling for new reporting requirements related to physician-assisted su***de within Medicare-certified hospice programs. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/09/medically-assisted-su***de-hhs-rfk-jr
In the letter, the lawmakers said they support efforts to improve end-of-life care but warned that physician-assisted su***de presents "serious concerns regarding coercion, discrimination, and patient safety."
"We write to encourage HHS and CMS to ensure that the Medicare program protects patients from coercion, abuse, and discrimination while complying with longstanding federal law prohibiting the use of federal funds for assisted su***de," the lawmakers wrote.
The letter noted that many individuals who seek physician-assisted su***de are enrolled in hospice care, arguing that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure those patients are adequately protected.
"The federal government has a compelling interest in ensuring that all patients-particularly those who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable-receive care free from coercion, abuse, neglect, or discrimination," the lawmakers wrote.
They urged HHS and CMS to require hospice providers to report data on issues like allegations of coercion, whether patients were denied life-sustaining treatment while being offered physician-assisted su***de, adverse events tied to lethal medications, and whether providers are complying with federal restrictions on taxpayer funding for assisted su***de.
The lawmakers also raised disability rights as an issue to examine,
"Disability rights advocates have consistently warned that physician-assisted su***de laws may place individuals with disabilities at heightened risk of discrimination and subtle coercion," the letter said. "Federal oversight is necessary to ensure these individuals are afforded equal protection and meaningful safeguards."
The lawmakers also questioned whether existing state safeguards are adequately protecting patients from outside pressure.
"Without meaningful oversight and transparent reporting, it is impossible to know whether vulnerable individuals are making truly voluntary decisions or whether external pressures-including financial concerns, inadequate access to care, or family influence-are affecting these life-ending decisions," the lawmakers wrote.

Bipartisan group warns HHS that older adults and people with disabilities risk being pressured to end their lives

07/16/2026

French parliament approves landmark assisted-dying bill

"A society grounded in fraternity supports, ⁠protects, and cares for people. It never gives up on the most fragile among us," former interior minister Bruno Retailleau, a conservative presidential candidate, said on X.

French lawmakers on Wednesday adopted a bill that will create a legal right to assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses, capping an intense ethical and ​political debate.

07/14/2026

Across New Hampshire, there is a growing recognition that how we respond to mental health crises matters just as much as whether help is available at all.

Recently, partners from across the state will come together again as part of the NH 988 Coalition, continuing a conversation that has been steadily gaining momentum. At the center of that work is a simple but important idea: people need to understand when and how to reach out for help—and trust that support will be there when they do.

Over the past several months, coalition members have been working to define what that looks like in practice. That includes helping communities better understand what a “crisis” means, so that individuals don’t hesitate to call 988 when they need support. It also means being clearer about what happens after that call—how people are connected to care, what resources are available, and how the system works beyond that first moment of outreach.

New Hampshire expands its crisis response efforts with 988 Coalition work and upcoming su***de prevention trainings focused on awareness, support, and community resilience.

07/13/2026

July 30, 2026: Imminent Su***de Risk Assessment in High-risk Individuals Denying Su***de Ideation or Intent
Describe challenges of reliance on self-disclosure of su***de ideation.
Explain the difference between long-term and imminent su***de risk.
Discuss the NCM- and MARIS-based approaches to the assessment of imminent su***de risk.
Explain the use of clinicians’ emotional responses as tools for the assessment and management of imminent suicidal behavior.
Register online

A workshop on best practices for assessing high-risk individuals denying suicidal ideation or intent.

07/07/2026

U.S. Adults' Ability to Afford Healthcare at a Five-Year Low
An estimated 2.8 million more Americans reported inability to afford healthcare in 2025 compared with 2024

Fewer than half (49%) of Americans can afford needed care and medications, a five-year low. Younger, older and adults with chronic conditions are hit hardest.

07/05/2026

Every day, firefighters and emergency responders run toward danger while the rest of us run away. They witness tragedy, loss, injury, death, and human suffering on a regular basis. While they are trained to manage emergencies, no one is immune to the emotional toll that repeated exposure to trauma can take.

June was PTSD Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize the mental health challenges faced by firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. Studies suggest that firefighters experience rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly higher than the general population, with some estimates indicating that as many as one in five firefighters may meet the criteria for PTSD during their careers.

For organizations committed to the Zero Su***de framework, these realities underscore an important truth: su***de prevention is not only about crisis intervention. It is also about recognizing trauma, reducing stigma, creating supportive cultures, and ensuring that people receive help before they reach a point of despair.

This PTSD Awareness Month, let us honor the people who protect our communities by ensuring they receive the care, compassion, and support they deserve.

07/03/2026

As summer arrives in New Hampshire, many of us are eager to spend more time outdoors: hiking, gardening, walking the dog, visiting parks, or simply enjoying our backyards.

Unfortunately, we are not the only ones enjoying the warmer weather.

Tick season is underway, and with it comes an increased risk of tickborne diseases that affect thousands of people across New Hampshire every year. And overall warming temperatures mean more ticks, and ticks in areas that used to be safe to hike.

Lyme disease isn't the only tickborne illness affecting New Hampshire. Learn about the risks, symptoms, prevention strategies, and why public health officials are paying close attention to ticks this summer.

07/02/2026

Extreme heat is forecast across New Hampshire. Learn how to stay safe with the NHPHA Beat the Heat Toolkit, featuring free resources for individuals, families, employers, and communities.

Extreme heat is forecast across New Hampshire. Learn how to stay safe with the NHPHA Beat the Heat Toolkit, featuring free resources for individuals, families, employers, and communities.

07/01/2026

A Difficult Case in Spain Raises Hard Questions About Autonomy, Care, and the Limits of the Law

A case unfolding in Spain this week has drawn international attention—not because it is simple, but because it is anything but.

A young woman, paralyzed after a su***de attempt in 2022, is scheduled to undergo euthanasia following a long and unsuccessful legal challenge by her father to prevent it. The courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, have allowed the procedure to move forward, concluding that she meets the legal requirements and has the capacity to make the decision.

At the center of the case is a conflict that resists easy resolution: the tension between individual autonomy and the concerns of family, the role of the state in regulating end-of-life decisions, and the broader question of what it means to care for people experiencing profound physical and psychological suffering.

Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, joining a small but growing number of countries that allow it under strict conditions. The law requires that individuals be adults, fully informed, and experiencing what is defined as “serious and incurable” suffering. In this case, the courts determined that those conditions were met, despite the objections raised by her family regarding her mental health history and prior suicidal ideation.

A case unfolding in Spain this week has drawn international attention—not because it is simple, but because it is anything but.