The establishment of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention needs to continue to be commended, as there has been no better time than now to see such a project take shape. When announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Department of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, it brought a major step towards developing the most effective solutions for preventing such tragedies.

The Action Alliance - created as a result of efforts by The Suicide Prevention Resource Center with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - will accelerate our nation's efforts to prevent suicide. In the United States, suicide claims over 34,000 lives annually. National concern continues to mount as we witness rise in suicides among members of the military, working aged adults, and young American Indians and Alaska Natives.

We have certainly lost too many to suicide, a preventable public health crisis. The strong federal support for suicide prevention through the formation of the Action Alliance is commendable and community-based mental health and addictions treatment providers are committed to supporting the mission of the Action Alliance in their communities through public education efforts such as Mental Health First Aid, and the provision of quality treatment and supports to high-risk groups.

The Action Alliance, a public-private partnership, will build on noteworthy achievements to date in national suicide prevention - federal and state legislation that has advanced suicide prevention planning and programming; programs to improve detection of suicide risk and access to care; the establishment of the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center, a national Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK); and development of the National Violent Death Reporting System.

As the Action Alliance moves forward its focus will include:

• Updating and advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

• Development of effective public awareness and social marketing campaigns, including targeted messages for specific segments of the population that can change attitudes and norms and reduce suicidal behaviors.

• Advancing suicide prevention among high-risk groups.

Out of this alliance will grow advancements for practitioners, policymakers, service providers, communities, families, agencies and other partners that play a vital role in reducing the burden of suicide in America.

We can all do something to help reduce suicide in this country, and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention is a step in the right direction. Thanks to the establishment of this organization, we are now given the resources to reduce these tragedies and provide help to those who need it.