Resource Types: Report

At the request of Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Sen. Susan Collins, the Special
Investigations Division surveyed every juvenile detention facility in the United
States to assess what happens to youth when community mental health services
are not readily available.
This report, the first national study of its kind, presents the results of the survey.
It covers the period from January 1 to June 30, 2003.
The report finds that the use of juvenile detention facilities to house youth waiting
for community mental health services is widespread and a serious national
problem.

The overall objective of this research was to address and fill in the gaps in the existing research literature by evaluating a popular suicidal ideation assessment tool, one commonly used within detention centers around the country, for its cultural sensitivity and to modify and, where appropriate, to improve the state, local, and tribal correctional agencies’ ability to more effectively screen for suicide ideation among American Indian detainees. This endeavor involved exploring the connection between American Indian – Northern Plains culture and non-Indian inmates’ responses to suicide screening questions as they are asked within this setting.

The purpose of the Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention was to review the existing research and formulate a series of practical, doable recommendations to help stem the tide of youth suicides occurring in First Nations communities across Canada. This report provides an examination of the issues the Group identified, from basic suicide data to specific factors affecting First Nations, and based on this, presents recommendations for action.

Originally published as an article in (2003), Suicide & Life Threatening Behavior, 33(2):101-10. The federal government, largely through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sponsors many science-based suicide prevention initiatives. This article details the prevention-related agendas and collaborative efforts of five divisions within agencies.

The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health was charged with studying the mental health service delivery system and making recommendations that would enable adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbance to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. Six goals and corresponding recommendations have been identified. Includes Executive Order 13263 of April 29, 2002.

This report provides basic statistical info on youth suicide and an overview on the topics of suicide risk assessment, prevention, and aftermath assistance. Lists key references and major websites.

Published as: Morbidity and mortality weekly report / Centers for Disease Control. August 1, 2003/ 52(30);697-701. Injuries account for 75% of all deaths among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and youth (1), and AI/ANs have an overall injury-related death rate that is twice the U.S. rate for all racial/ethnic populations (2). However, rate disparities vary by area and by cause. To help focus prevention efforts, CDC analyzed injury mortality data by Indian Health Service (IHS) administrative area and by race/ethnicity. This report summarizes the results of these analyses.

Collaboration Math describes the application of this Prevention Institute tool at the University of California Berkeley’s Traffic Safety Center, illustrating how multidisciplinary groups can use this tool to increase effective collaboration.

As a follow-up to the National Strategy, a panel of leading experts from various disciplines, convened to participate in Expanding the Safety Net: A Roundtable on Vulnerability, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Behavior on College Campuses. Co-sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA)and the Jed Foundation, this roundtable was organized to address the significant impact of suicide on college and university campuses and the need for intervention. Objectives incl. thorough understanding of risk factors and conditions that lead to suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior among college students and to establish a set of strategies that can be implemented to enhance intervention and ultimately reduce the rate of suicide, suicide attempts, and related behavior among college students.

Published as: MMWR 51(03);56-59. This report describes EMS suicide-related responses during November 1999 through October 2000 and indicates that EMS data would be a useful component of an integrated statewide suicidal behavior surveillance system. A chart of rates of suicide deaths and EMS response to noninstitutionalized residents by sex and age group is included.