St. Tammany Outreach for the Prevention of Suicide (STOPS) was founded in 2001 by a small group of community members who recognized the urgent need for local suicide prevention resources and education across the Northshore. At that time, few organizations in the Florida Parishes were addressing mental health and suicide awareness directly. The founders of STOPS set out to change that; determined to build a grassroots network of hope, help, and healing.
From its beginnings as an all-volunteer effort, STOPS grew into a leading nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. The organization began by offering safeTALK (Suicide Alertness for Everyone) and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) — two internationally recognized, evidence-based programs designed to teach community members how to identify and respond to signs of suicidal thinking.
Over the years, STOPS has expanded its outreach through community events, school partnerships, and workplace education programs, including the development of Lunch & Learn sessions that bring life-saving information directly to businesses, schools, and civic groups.
Today, more than two decades later, STOPS continues to serve as a trusted resource for individuals, families, educators, and organizations across the Florida Parishes. Guided by the belief that every life has value and every story deserves hope, STOPS remains steadfast in its mission to prevent suicide, provide compassionate intervention, and offer healing support to those affected by loss.