Ohio releases guide to help prevent suicide among older adults

Ohio has launched a new resource for professionals, caregivers and communities aimed at spotting suicide risk among older adults and connecting them to support. The guide comes as state officials say Ohioans 65 and older had the state’s highest suicide rate last year.

Why it matters: - Older Ohioans are facing a public health risk that state officials say demands earlier detection, better coordination and more direct support. - The new guide is designed to help reduce stigma, improve conversations about mental health and connect older adults to care before a crisis escalates.

What happened: - The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation released “Identifying and Reducing Suicide Risk in Older Ohioans: Resource Guide for Professionals, Caregivers, and Communities” on July 8, 2026. - The guide is aimed at healthcare providers, aging services professionals, behavioral health professionals, caregivers, family members and community organizations. - The resource can be used for staff training, safety planning, community education and protocol review. - A downloadable copy is available online, and printed copies are available by contacting OSPF at older.adults@ohiospf.org.

The details: - The guide offers practical guidance, evidence-based strategies and resources for suicide prevention across healthcare, aging services, community organizations and family caregiving settings. - It was developed through a statewide collaboration of public health, aging, behavioral health, healthcare and community organizations. - The content draws on research, data and community conversations to help users identify risk factors, recognize warning signs, hold supportive conversations and connect older adults to services. - A steering committee guided development and included representatives from the Ohio Department of Aging, Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, LifeCare Alliance, Area Agencies on Aging, Mental Health & Recovery Board of Mahoning County, Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug, & Mental Health Services Board, ADAMHS Board of Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and UMADAOP. - Tony Coder, CEO of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, said supporting older adults’ mental wellness is an act of care and a commitment to helping them feel valued, connected and able to find help. - Department of Behavioral Health Director Tia Marcel Moretti said Ohioans 65 and older experienced the state’s highest suicide rate last year. - Moretti said the toolkit is meant to help providers, caregivers and community partners improve early detection and intervention, strengthen coordination across health and aging systems and use data to guide prevention efforts.

Between the lines: - The release frames suicide prevention for older adults as a systems problem, not just an individual one. - By targeting multiple settings at once, the guide is meant to close gaps between healthcare, aging services and community support. - The emphasis on stigma reduction suggests the state sees silence and delayed help-seeking as part of the risk.

What's next: - The guide is positioned for use in ongoing training, local outreach and protocol updates across Ohio. - Health, aging and community partners are expected to use the resource to improve screening, intervention and referrals for older adults. - The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation is the contact point for printed copies and related access requests.