Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network

What Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network does

The Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network (SRRN) is a grassroots non-profit organization founded in 1989 in Saginaw, Michigan, by Barb Smith following the suicide of her 20-year-old brother, John. The organization delivers evidence-based suicide prevention education, survivor support, and aftercare services across Michigan and beyond, employing approximately 4 staff supported by a 9-member board. Its core products center on licensed training curricula from LivingWorks, including safeTALK (half-day suicide alertness training) and ASIST (two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), complemented by tailored awareness presentations for workplaces, first responders, schools, places of worship, and civic groups, plus keynote presentations and aftercare training for clinicians.

The organization extends beyond training into direct service delivery through a free Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group meeting twice monthly and a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (L.O.S.S.) team of 2-3 trained responders who provide immediate in-person support to families after a loss. Its signature awareness and fundraising event, the annual Walk for Hope (24th year in 2026), is hosted at Saginaw Valley State University and features a 5K/1-Mile walk alongside resource booths and speakers. The organization is recognized at the state and national level, with founder Barb Smith appointed by the Governor to the Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission and asked by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to lead the statewide suicide post-vention team.

SRRN's business model is donation- and training-fee-driven with no disclosed pricing. Revenue streams include individual and organizational donations processed through the OneCause online portal, training registration fees for ASIST and safeTALK delivered to organizations and community members, and event sponsorship revenue from the Walk for Hope (including foundation sponsors such as TriStar Capital). Distribution is primarily direct through on-site training delivery across Michigan and beyond, supplemented by community partnerships with funeral homes, healthcare providers, schools, first responder agencies, and mental health organizations such as List Psychological Services. The organization carries no proprietary technology platform and operates with a small staff structure that emphasizes expert trainer delivery, lived experience, and community trust over scale or technology leverage.

Name

Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network

Legal name

Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network

Website

https://srrn.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network is a grassroots non-profit founded in 1989 in Saginaw, Michigan, delivering evidence-based suicide prevention trainings (safeTALK, ASIST), survivor support groups, aftercare, and the annual Walk for Hope across Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Training Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services (EDALAFAD)

Keywords

• Suicide prevention training
• Mental health awareness
• Crisis intervention skills
• Survivor support services
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Saginaw

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies primarily on donations from individuals and organizations to fund training workshops, operational costs, and awareness campaigns. The website features an online donation portal through OneCause platform.
2. Training Registration Fees: Revenue generated from training registrations for programs like ASIST and safeTALK delivered to organizations and individuals in the community.
3. Event Sponsorships: The annual Walk for Hope event generates sponsorship revenue from local and regional businesses and organizations at various sponsorship levels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network is a grassroots non-profit organization that delivers evidence-based suicide prevention training programs (safeTALK, ASIST, Awareness Training, Aftercare Training, Keynote Presentations) and provides direct aftercare services including a Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group and a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (L.O.S.S.) team. Training is delivered on-site across Michigan to workplaces, schools, first responder agencies, places of worship, and civic groups, supplemented by the annual Walk for Hope community awareness and fundraising event.

Product overview

Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network offers a multi-tiered suite of suicide prevention and aftercare services centered around evidence-based training programs and peer support. The core portfolio includes safeTALK (half-day suicide alertness training), ASIST (two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Awareness Training, Keynote Presentations, and Aftercare Training—each designed for different audiences and settings. Complementing these trainings are direct support services: a Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group (meeting twice monthly) and the Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (L.O.S.S.) team providing immediate crisis response. The organization also hosts the annual Walk for Hope community event. All services work together to create a comprehensive safety net for suicide prevention and postvention support in Michigan and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• safeTALK

Quantifiable outcome

• 89 trainings delivered in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• LivingWorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed training provider for ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and safeTALK programs. LivingWorks is the global leader in suicide prevention training, with programs delivered in over 30 countries.
• Michigan Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that asked Barb Smith to lead the suicide post-vention team across Michigan, indicating a formal partnership for statewide suicide prevention efforts.
• Michigan Suicide Prevention CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState commission to which Barb Smith was appointed by the Governor, providing guidance on statewide suicide prevention policy and initiatives.
• Central Michigan University (CMU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough board member Jacqueline List, provides outpatient mental health and substance use services. Also involved in medical education through CMU College of Medicine which became first medical school to require suicide awareness training.
• Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the Annual Walk for Hope event. Located at 7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI 48710.
• List Psychological ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwned by board member Jacqueline List, provides outpatient mental health and substance use services across 8 locations in the Great Lakes Bay and Thumb Region. Jacqueline is a certified LivingWorks ASIST trainer.
• Saginaw County Medical Society (SCMS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough board member Joan Cramer, has hosted multiple safeTALK trainings and educational presentations for physicians, residents, and medical students. Proposed resolution leading to AMA policy on suicide awareness training.
• Lenawee County Community Mental Health (CMH)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hosting ASIST training events for county staff and community members. Training events scheduled at Adrian First United Methodist Church.
• Partner In ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the network's mission and programs.
• American IndianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization serving Native American communities in suicide prevention efforts.
• Child and Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing family services and supporting suicide prevention initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jason Foundation: The Jason Foundation provides youth-focused suicide prevention education, awareness, and training programs for schools, communities, and workplaces. Comparable as a peer organization focused on suicide prevention education and training for student and community audiences.
• LivingWorks Education: LivingWorks is the licensor of ASIST and safeTALK, the two flagship training programs delivered by the Barb Smith network, and also operates its own training network globally. It is the closest direct peer as both a curriculum developer and a training provider in the same suicide prevention category.
• QPR Institute: QPR Institute provides gatekeeper suicide prevention training (Question, Persuade, Refer) to schools, workplaces, and communities, directly competing with safeTALK and ASIST for organizational training contracts and audiences.
• Samaritans USA: Samaritans is a suicide prevention nonprofit offering emotional support hotlines, public education, and survivor support. It is comparable as a peer organization combining direct crisis support, survivor services, and prevention education.

Broad incumbents

• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services focused on LGBTQ+ youth via phone, text, and chat, plus education and training. It overlaps with SRRN's youth-facing awareness work but at much larger national scale.
• Mental Health America: Mental Health America is a national community-based nonprofit addressing mental health needs through education, advocacy, and peer support. Comparable as a peer mental-health nonprofit, but with a national footprint and broader scope beyond suicide prevention.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): AFSP is the largest national nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention through research, education, advocacy, and survivor support. It is broadly comparable as a peer suicide-prevention nonprofit, but operates at national scale with chapters across all 50 states, making it a broader incumbent rather than a direct regional competitor.
• Crisis Text Line: Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 crisis support via text messaging and serves as a national intervention resource that connects people in distress to counselors. It overlaps with SRRN's mission to connect at-risk individuals to intervention resources but operates as a much larger national platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BarbSmithSRRN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barb-smith-srrn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network