In 2021, the Commonwealth of Kentucky took an important step forward when Governor Andy Beshear declared May as Nurse Suicide Prevention Month. This proclamation, supported by leaders from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, the Kentucky Nurses Association, and other state partners, demonstrated what is possible when nursing leadership, advocacy, and policy align to address workforce mental health. Efforts in Kentucky also highlighted the importance of expanding access to mental health resources, integrating well-being into nursing culture, and advancing education and training in suicide prevention.

This work helped catalyze a broader national conversation.

• Late Summer 2025, a simple but critical question emerged: why do other health professions have nationally recognized suicide awareness initiatives, while nurses do not? That question prompted renewed collaboration among nursing leaders, advocates, and individuals with lived experience across the United States.

• Fall 2025, a grassroots effort began to take shape. Following a presentation on nurse suicide in Wisconsin, September 17, 2025, was informally recognized as Nurse Suicide Awareness Day. The response from nurses and leaders across the state was immediate and clear: this work needed to expand.

• In 2026, that momentum translated into formal policy action. With support from the Wisconsin Nurses Association and engagement with national nursing leadership, Governor Tony Evers signed a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Nurse Suicide Awareness, Intervention, and Postvention Month in Wisconsin. This marked a critical step toward establishing a coordinated, statewide approach to addressing nurse suicide and supporting the mental health of the nursing workforce.

This initiative has since grown beyond a single state.

‍ ‍ National Nurse Suicide Awareness, Intervention, and Postvention Month is a nurse-informed, lived experience–driven movement focused on three priorities:

• Awareness: Bringing visibility to the scope and impact of nurse suicide

• Intervention: Promoting evidence-informed strategies to identify risk and respond effectively

• Postvention: Supporting individuals, teams, and organizations after a suicide loss

The initiative is built in collaboration with nurses, health systems, professional organizations, and advocates, with a clear emphasis on practical action, policy change, and culture transformation.

This platform serves as a centralized resource for education, tools, and partnership. It also stands as a space to honor nurses lost to suicide and to support those navigating mental health challenges, substance use, or recovery.

The goal is not only to raise awareness, but to drive measurable change in how the nursing profession understands, prevents, and responds to suicide.