Project Zero: Everyone Matters

Project Zero: Every One Matters, launched in 2020, is an initiative focused on adult suicide prevention and systems-level change to improve adult mental health by enhancing protective factors and reducing risk factors. The initiative, which is being funded by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, has three key strategies focused on data, the community and the workplace.

DATA STRATEGY

Project Zero uses data to inform its work. In 2021, Project Zero launched a new community health survey, called the “Fox Cities Mind Your Wellness Survey” that gathered in-depth information on the mental health and suicide-related behaviors and attitudes of adults in the Fox Cities. The findings informed the special report, “Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Recommendations,” released to the community in May 2023. Project Zero launched Mind Your Wellness 2.0 in fall 2024. Click here to learn more.

COMMUNITY STRATEGY

Project Zero is working to raise awareness about mental health and cultivating resilience in our community, with an emphasis on sub-populations known to have a higher risk for suicide.

As part of this strategy, Project Zero and the Zero Suicide Coalition launched a new public health campaign, called Strong Minds 4 Men, in May 2021 targeting middle-aged men with the goal of connecting them to mental health services and supports and reducing their suicide risk. Click here to learn more.

The awareness campaign features a resource webpage that is part of the MyConnectionNEW.org site and pulls together information about specific mental health disorders and available services.

WORKFORCE STRATEGY

This strategy includes implementing the zero-suicide framework within health care systems, and our community mental health providers. This strategy also includes the goal of better serving disparity groups, and ensuring our community’s mental health workforce has the training and tools to serve all groups of people equitably.