A new Regional Suicide Response Team launched Friday, Sept. 18, across all eight Northern Kentucky counties, including Boone County, with a stated goal of zero suicides in the region.
NorthKey Community Care, the region's state-designated Community Mental Health Center, secured a Zero Suicide Grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to fund the effort. The grant will pay for a full-time position dedicated to coordinating the team, the NKY Tribune reported. NorthKey will serve as convener.
Dozens of organizations across the eight-county region have signed on, representing veterans, schools, churches, colleges, businesses and healthcare providers. The team plans to design a coordinated system to identify at-risk residents earlier and connect them to treatment, according to NorthKey.
"There is a lot of great work being done, but we're stronger together," said Jennifer Miller, NorthKey's Chief of Clinical Services, at the team's launch. "That's the whole point of this effort."
The initiative follows Kentucky's statewide framework and focuses on four areas. Prevention efforts aim to reduce stigma and provide education on discussing suicide and mental health. Intervention supports people in crisis or who have attempted suicide. Postvention addresses the community response after a suicide occurs. Data tracking will measure progress and identify gaps.
Boone County's crisis
The regional effort builds on work already underway in Boone County. In December 2025, local leaders formed the Boone County Suicide Response Team after five juvenile deaths in the county since November 2024. Four were confirmed deaths by suicide. One cause of death was undetermined.
Boone County Judge/Executive Gary W. Moore called the deaths "a call to action" in a December 2025 statement announcing the county-level team. That team included the City of Florence, Florence Police Department, Boone County School District, Walton-Verona Schools, the Northern Kentucky Health Department, NorthKey, the Boone County Sheriff's Office, the Boone County Coroner, faith-based groups and parent advocates.
The new regional team expands that model across all eight NKY counties. Next steps include hiring a full-time director, organizing work groups and continuing outreach to stakeholders.
How to get involved
Organizations interested in joining the Regional Suicide Response Team can contact Jennifer Miller at [email protected]. The SAMHSA Zero Suicide grant program provides awards ranging from $400,000 to $700,000 per year for up to five years. The specific amount awarded to NorthKey has not been disclosed.
Miller told the NKY Tribune the team will stay active "until we reach our goal of zero suicides in Northern Kentucky."
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
