Goal 3

The Suicide Prevention Task Force was renamed as the “Focus on Life Coalition”. Coalition members worked on Guam’s State Plan for Suicide Prevention endorsed by the PEACE Council and shared by the Governor for review and endorsement. The Coalition Steering Committee elected its Board Officers in September 2025. The Coalition was officially established, and the Executive Board signed the incorporation documents on January 12, 2026.

GFOL provided training to GBHWC staff as well as employees of Americorps, Breaking Wave Theatre Company, Bureau of Statistics and Planning, Customs and Quarantine Agency, Department of Administration, Department of Agriculture, Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Department of Land Management,  Department of Public Health and Social Services, Department of Revenue and Taxation, Department of Youth Affairs, DODEA, Guam Army National Guard, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, Guam Community College, Guam Department of Education, Guam Energy Office, Guam Fire Department, Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority, Guam International Airport Authority, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, Guam Power Authority, Guam Public Defender Service Corporation, Guam Regional Medical City, Guam Solid Waste Authority, GY671, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Governor, The Salvation Army Lighthouse Recovery Center, Sanctuary, Inc., TOHGE, University of Guam, WestCare Pacific, and WGU.  GFOL used six evidence-based programs—Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Lethal Means Safety (LMS) Workshop, LivingWorks START, Pacific Way to Wellness, Resilience and Thriving (R&T), and SafeTALK—to train direct service providers. 269 direct service providers completed training in Year 6. 

Follow-up surveys completed during this review cycle showed that 50% of respondents have helped someone exhibiting signs that they might be thinking about suicide. Respondents helped by tuning into the possibility of suicide, asking the individual if they were thinking about suicide, talking with the individual about how serious it is to think about suicide, and connecting the individual to helping resources. 55% of respondents accessed safety resources since their training—15% accessed resources for themselves; 20% for someone else; and 25% for general interest. A significant majority (95%) of respondents are willing to talk with someone who may be thinking about suicide. Respondents believe they can recognize the signs that someone might be thinking about suicide and knew how and where to get help for someone who may be thinking about suicide. Respondents feel confident in their ability to help someone who may be thinking about suicide. All respondents agree that the training has been helpful and believe they could be a better helper for someone thinking about suicide. 

RESULTS FROM YEAR 6