Bullying and Suicide Program

About Our Program

MAHA's Bullying and Suicide Prevention Program, funded through the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Violence Prevention initiative. It aims to increase awareness, expand access to support, and strengthen intervention efforts across the city. This program aligns with CDPH’s Bullying Prevention Project (BP) goals by promoting effective strategies that improve community, public, and provider responses to bullying and suicide.

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Join CCBSP to connect, learn, and take action together to prevent bullying and suicide in Chicago communities!
The Chicago Collaborative for Bullying and Suicide Prevention (CCBSP) is citywide network brings together organizations and advocates committed to prevention through education, collaboration, and data-driven strategies. Starting in May 2025, the coalition will meet bi-monthly to share knowledge, coordinate resources and training opportunities, and strengthen collective efforts around mental health, bullying, and suicide prevention. A key focus will be partnering with CDPH to update and expand bullying prevention resources—ensuring they’re inclusive and accessible to all communities.
 
We’re currently recruiting people and organizations involved in violence prevention, mental health, youth serving, schools, faith-based organizations, or anyone interested in taking action against Bullying—and we’d love for you to be part of it!

 

Sign Up for Updates & Join Meetings!

Recent News and Events:

  • In the US:
    • over 47,173 reported suicide deaths in 2017
    • more than twice as many suicides as homicides
    • a person dies by suicide about every 13 minutes
  • In Illinois:
    • more than 1,000 Illinoisans die by suicide each year
    • the first leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 14
    • the 3rd leading cause of death for those between the ages of 15 and 34
    • the 4th leading cause of death for those between the ages of 35 and 54
    • men are three to four times more likely than women to die from suicide
  • Factors that may increase the suicide risk include:
    • history of suicide attempts
    • history of depression and other mental disorders
    • history alcohol and drug abuse
    • history of violence or suicide of another family member
    • feeling of hopelessness
    • impulsive or aggressive tendencies
    • genetic/biological determinants
    • Isolation, a feeling of being cut of from other people
    • Barriers to accessing mental health treatment

If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call the 24/7 hotlines for help:

1-800-784-2433 or 1-800-273-8255

Suicide Prevention: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

National Institute for Mental Health: www.nimh.nih.gov

Suicide Prevention Resource Center：www.sprc.org

Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) is the only organization serving the Asian American population selected to convene the Chicago Collaborative for Bullying and Suicide Prevention (CCBSP).

Collaborating with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Erie Neighborhood House (ENH), we aim to provide meaningful impact across the City of Chicago through resource development, community awareness, and education opportunities. One of our first steps is working together to identify agencies, groups, and individuals that may have an interest in these important matters to create the Chicago Collaborative for Bullying and Suicide Prevention (CCBSP). Interested groups and individuals are invited to meet and develop a shared vision of what we plan to achieve by working together.

For more information, please contact Wenjia Dou at wenjiadou@maha-us.org