MS GLS19 is a collaboration between the MS Department of Mental Health, Mississippi State University and Region 8 Mental Health aimed at reducing youth suicides by providing: a) expanded suicide awareness and gatekeeper training for families, schools, communities and youth-serving organizations statewide; b) improved identification and clinical services for at-risk youth; and c) the development of statewide rapid response postvention services. The project will: 1) increase the number of youth-serving organizations who are able to identify and refer youth at risk of suicide by providing gatekeeper training to at least 5,000 educators, childcare professionals, community care providers, and individuals in foster care and juvenile justice agencies annually; 2) increase the capacity of clinical service providers to assess, manage, and treat youth at risk of suicide by referring at-risk youth for mental health care services within 24 hours of suicide screening completion; 3) improve the continuity of care and follow-up of youth identified to be at risk for suicide, including those who have been discharged from emergency department and inpatient psychiatric units by providing statewide postvention training to at least 1,000 family members, friends, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance use disorder programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations annually; and 4) provide postvention support services for families statewide within 24 hours of notice of suicide death or attempt. This project will build upon and integrate initiatives developed by DMH and MSU under previous Garrett Lee Smith grant-funded projects, Shatter the Silence awareness and prevention campaign (DMH), and The Alliance Project gatekeeper training (MSU). The project will serve an estimated 6,000 people annually (30,000 over five years) with suicide awareness and prevention, gatekeeper and postvention trainings to families, schools, communities and youth-serving organizations. Region 8 Mental Health expects to provide continued mental health services a total of 2,130 students over five years within its five-county catchment area through employment of school-based therapists who will conduct suicide and mental health screenings and make appropriate referrals to treatment services. An estimated 32,130 Mississippians will be served in some capacity through the grant activities over the course of five years.
Grantee Categories: Garrett Lee Smith Tribal
Minnesota Department of Health
The population of focus is all youth and young adults age 10-24 throughout Minnesota; while prioritizing American Indian youth and tribal communities. Having our program provide supports for the entire state, while targeting communities of increased risk, allows for the grantfunded coordinators and liaisons to address emerging issues over the course of the five year funding and beyond.
Goal number one is to make suicide prevention a core component of behavioral/health care services that will decrease suicide by 10% in 5 years, 20% in 10 years working towards zero deaths. By fundamentally changing the organizations provide care and work with other providers will have lasting impact after the funding period ends.
Goal number two is to implement effective programs to increase communities’ capacity to identify youth at risk and connect them to the coordinated and competent behavioral/health care system to decrease the number of medically-treated suicide attempts. By working with local professionals and caregivers to build the necessary skills to identify youth and risk and know of local resources available to support the youth, we will be build a community of gatekeepers.
To assist those who are trained to identify persons at increased risk, we are going to also work very closely with youth-serving institutions to change their policies and procedures for providing training to their staff and also for connecting youth to services once identified. For example, we will be working with higher education institutions to use the Jed & Clinton Health Matters Program Framework for comprehensive, sustainable approach to preventing suicides in our college settings.
Goal number three is to support healthy and empowered individuals, families and communities to increase protection from suicide risk. We will be working closely with schools and youth serving organizations to prioritize building protective factors in our youth. The curriculums we selected for schools to implement encourage these protective factors:
• Family and community support (connectedness)
• Supportive ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
• Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent ways of handling disputes
Building the above supports and protective factors will have lasting impact for the youth involved our programming, well beyond just suicide prevention
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
The Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) Suicide Prevention Project strives to prevent suicide ideation, attempts,and deaths among students by promoting mental wellness and help-seeking behaviors, to support at-risk groups acrossthe College. To achieve this transformational change, the project design utilizes an integrated and coordinated approach.Efforts include: establishing documented evidence-based best practices and procedures; implementing nationallyrecognized prevention strategies; training staff; launching outreach and support to all students (while specificallytargeting those at high-risk) – who are experiencing substance abuse, mental health problems, and life stressors whichmake them vulnerable as well; and creating a strong and beneficial network of community partners and resources. This program will be culturally broad and informed by direct input from students, community partners, faculty, and staff.
Michigan
TYSP-Mi3 will impact rates of youth/young adult suicide by establishing suicide prevention as a core priority in Michigan Child Welfare (CW) system and a growing network of Emergency Departments (EDs) TYSP-Mi3 will increase numbers of gatekeepers and clinical service providers trained in evidence-based prevention strategies and support communities in strengthening local efforts. TYSP-Mi3 capitalizes on a strong track record of public health and academic expertise and unique statewide partnerships. Building on the base established with current GLS State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention funding, TYSP-Mi3 program goals are: Goal 1–Build a statewide network of EDs that consider suicide prevention a core priority and consequently implement evidence-based assessment, intervention, continuity of care, and follow-up strategies for youth at risk for suicide and their families. Goal 2–Partner with Michigan’s CW agency to advance and sustain suicide prevention training, screening, and referral practices, with a focus on the state’s foster care system. Goal 3–Strategically embed a cadre of trained gatekeepers and clinical service providers within Michigan’s youth serving workforce who consistently use evidence-based practices. Goal 4–Support local communities to implement suicide prevention best practices tailored to community needs via technical assistance, training, and educational and funding opportunities. Goal 5–Enhance the availability of resources and training for postvention services in the state. Populations of focus include 1) youth ages 10-24 seeking emergency services and 2) CW-involved youth. The University of Michigan’s Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES) will serve as a Technical Assistance Center to support dissemination and implementation of suicide assessment, brief intervention , and continuity of care strategies to at least eight general medical EDs across the state. The program’s current CW collaboration will continue, focusing on 1) training, policy, protocol, and referral network development to support the CW workforce as suicide prevention gatekeepers, as well as 2) expanding screening of youth entering foster care, with a goal of moving screening statewide. Via school, CMH, and community partnerships, youth serving professionals will participate in safeTALK, ASIST, and AMSR to strengthen the network of persons able and willing to help a youth/young adult in crisis. A new Postvention Work Group will be established to improve care for loss survivors. Government and non-governmental work groups will continue to advise the program and each other to enhance communication and strategic planning to ensure a “”Suicide-Safe Michigan.””
Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians
The Gun Lake Tribe (GLT) will develop a framework for suicide prevention and early intervention activities to increase program capacity, effectiveness and efficiency to identify, respond, assess and treat those identified as being at risk. The three-year We Walk Together Project will serve 160 community individuals, focusing on youth ages 10-24. GLT offers programs and services to citizens of federally recognized tribes who reside in Allegan, Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent, and Ottawa counties of Michigan. Roughly, 30% of Gun Lake Tribe Citizens who reside within the five-county service area are youth ages 10 to 24. Of that number, over 50% of GLT youth in this age range live in Allegan County, where the Tribal Government Office and Health and Human Services Department are located. The geographic catchment area where services are delivered is a rural area with limited access to hospitals and health centers. Needs Statement: GLT HHS department has basic suicide screening and intervention practices in place for individuals who access services; however, is in need of expanding services to identify, respond, assess and treat those identified as being at risk. In order to address the need, staff will accomplish two goals over the course of a three-year project: Goal 1: Develop and implement comprehensive and sustainable preventive, clinical and professional practices to enhance awareness, identification, referral and treatment strategies for American Indian Youth, ages 10-24, and household members in the GLT community focused on warning signs and risk factors for suicide, suicide and suicidal behaviors; and, Goal 2: Increase data collection and analysis to effectively address youth suicide in the Tribal community. The Zero Suicide Model was selected to develop team-based guidance and support to operationalize a suicide care plan into practice, while evidenced-based Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) was chosen to systematically screen, assist and refer people with substance abuse, suicide and suicide risk factors. The project will also incorporate staff and community training to better identify, assess and increase referrals. Over the course of the three-year project, staff will work with Cheryl Endres, evaluator, to increase data and analysis, and with Western Michigan University partner, Dee Sherwood, Ph.D. for implementation of prevention and early intervention activities. Existing relationships with Allegan County Community Mental Health Suicide Prevention Coalition will be leveraged during the project for training, strengthening resources and connections and capacity for referrals.
Marshall University
Marshall University Suicide Prevention Education Across Campus (MU-SPEAC) program is a collaborative approach between multiple academic and campus departments, including: Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Public Health, Nursing, Physical Therapy, the School of Pharmacy, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Counseling Center, MU Wellness Center, Office of Veteran’s Affairs, Behavioral Health and Psychology Clinic, LGBTQ Office, Women’s Center, Office of Student Conduct, MU INTO Program, University Residence Halls, Student Support (first generation support), and the Athletic Department. MU-SPEAC will create a comprehensive public health approach to assist individuals at risk for suicidal behavior and to create a safer campus community. The program will also partner with state and community organizations that provide behavioral health support and suicide prevention education. MU-SPEAC will create a campus Advisory Team to provide education and services to prevent suicide among Marshall students. ALL MU students, including specific targeted populations (veterans, athletes, individuals who identify as LGBTQ, first generation, freshmen, medical students, professional groups and other at-risk groups) will be the population served by the programs and services provided in this grant. The taskforce will be comprised of campus and community stakeholders, including students. MU is a multi-campus, public university that provides undergraduate and graduate education to 13,000 students in West Virginia. MU-SPEAC is a public health approach that will consist of developing and providing culturally sensitive training to teach staff and faculty the necessary skills to provide evidence-based screening and intervention for individuals who are at risk for suicidal behavior and other related risk factor behaviors, such as substance misuse. This public health approach will target students at the universal, selective, and indicated levels. Universal strategies will target the entire MU student body to increase population based health and prevention. Specific programs at the level will include: education, gatekeeper training, awareness activities, social marketing, and working to increase help-seeking behavior, while decreasing stigma. Selected populations who have been shown to be at risk for suicide behavior, mental health concerns, and substance misuse will be targeted with suicide prevention strategies. Finally, MU-SPEAC will provide targeted clinical and prevention strategies toward Indicated groups on campus. These will be students who have made a suicide attempt, are in treatment for depression and anxiety, express suicidal thoughts/ideation and plans, are survivors of loss due to suicide, are recovering from substance misuse, and who are survivors of loss due to substance misuse. The MU-SPEAC grant will provide a collaborative framework to develop and implement a comprehensive public health approach using evidence-based programs and practices to address suicide on Marshall University’s campus.
Maine
Suicide prevention and early intervention is essential to support the safety and well-being of Maine young people during adolescence and into adulthood. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (MCDC) proposes to implement Project STAY (Support, Treatment, and Access for Youth) to support prevention, universal and indicated screening, evidence-based treatment, and coordination of care for youth at risk of suicide. To achieve these outcomes, MCDC will implement the following goals and objectives: Goal 1: Increase the number of schools and youth-serving organizations implementing evidence-based early intervention and suicide prevention policies and practices to identify and respond to youth with unmet mental health needs. Goal 2: Increase care management, access to mental health services, and follow-up for youth at high risk of suicide or suicide attempts. Goal 3: Increase the number of educators, care providers, and youth-serving professionals trained in evidence-based practices for screening, assessment, treatment, and follow-up of young people at risk of suicide. Goal 4: Increase help-seeking and improve youth access to care by promoting innovative outreach strategies, including crisis text services and peer-to-peer interventions. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a long history of engaging with community partners to provide innovative suicide prevention interventions across many sectors. We believe that Project STAY will have a positive impact on the well-being of our communities by reducing Maine’s rate of suicide deaths and suicide attempts.
Kent State University
The More Aware Initiative (MAI) is a comprehensive, collaborative, innovative, and unified approach to improving student mental health and wellness, while working to eliminate suicide among Kent State University (KSU) students. In fall 2017, 39,367 students were enrolled at KSU, with 71.2% at the main campus. About 60% are female and 70% are Caucasian. Recent data indicate that KSU students have a higher rate of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide in the last 12 months as compared college students nationally. Over the past five years, suicide attempts, ideation, and threats have generally increased for KSU students. To promote positive mental health and decrease suicidal ideation and attempts at KSU, the initiative will achieve five primary objectives: 1) Infrastructure: develop a comprehensive and coordinated network infrastructure to expand and enhance mental health, substance abuse and related programming and services for the KSU community. The network infrastructure will include peer-led programming and activities designed to improve student mental health and wellness and reduce incidents of students in crisis, 2) Gatekeeper Trainings: offer expanded and comprehensive options for students, faculty, staff, and families to become gatekeepers through online Kognito and QPR trainings and in-person Mental Health First Aid gatekeeper trainings, 3) Mental Health Screenings: promote and offer expanded in-person and online mental health and substance abuse screenings, 4) Increase Awareness of Mental Health Services: develop and implement a comprehensive campaign to promote and raise awareness of mental health and substance use and related issues and services. The campaign will include the creation of branding, developing student service materials, and unification and enhancement of campus mental health web pages, and 5) Increase Prevention Efforts: raise awareness and provide education to students through a peer-led initiative to provide innovative programming and activities. The initiative will develop and host Flash-Up events on the KSU main and all 7 regional campuses that will substantially increase the current reach of mental health and wellness-related programming and activities. Programming will be used to disseminate educational materials, improve mental wellness, raise awareness, increase coping skills and improve resiliency among approximately 39,000 students annually and 117,000 throughout the lifetime of the project. Aspects of the initiative, will specifically focus on at-risk groups such as students identifying as LGBTQ. The initiative will collect data from a variety of sources and levels not only to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative as a whole, but to assess individual programs and activities as promising practices.
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins Suicide Prevention Awareness, Response and Coordination (JH-SPARC) provides a continuum of suicide prevention training, screening and resources to advance the development of a comprehensive suicide prevention and early intervention service system for all Johns Hopkins students. JH-SPARC will increase the number of undergraduates, graduate students, medical students, and postdoctoral fellows identified, referred and receiving quality behavioral health services, with a focus on serving high risk populations (LGBTQ, veterans and military families, students with emotional and behavioral concerns). This project will be conducted in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program, the JHU Counseling Center, and University Mental Health Services as well as several student groups including Active Minds. JH-SPARC will develop a feasible, practical, sustainable and effective approach to prevent suicide in students.
Goals are to:
1) broaden public awareness of suicide by utilizing marketing and dissemination/ diffusion efforts related to suicide prevention for students;
2) use the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Interactive screening program;
3) increase training opportunities for resident assistants and others on campus who work with students by providing QPR gatekeeper training;
4) provide enhanced parent and student orientation sessions and materials; and
5) conduct continuous quality improvement and evaluation of outcomes.
QPR gatekeeper training will include an engaging and interactive training session. This educational approach will be tailored to the JHU context and address:
1) how to recognize suicide risk upstream,
2) communication and interpersonal skills including how to ask directly about suicide and how to provide support, and
3) how to address stigma and barriers to help-seeking.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Interactive Screening Program (ISP) approach aims to reduce barriers to care by providing a safe and secure online screening platform that allows individuals to anonymously connect and dialogue with a behavioral health professional. The number of students in any one year who would benefit from this project is approximately 22,311.
Johns Hopkins University
The White Mountain Apache (WMAT), Navajo Nation, and Johns Hopkins (JHU) are uniquely poised to respond to Grant SM-19-006. WMAT-JHU have contributed Native American data on current evidence-based interventions, adaptions of EBIs, and new culturally grounded upstream approaches to the suicide prevention field. The current proposal, Celebrating Life, will bring back this multi-tiered prevention strategy for youth and expand it to the Shiprock area of Navajo. The proposed initiative will support community-wide education to promote protective factors and reduce risks led by local Elders and community leaders; early identification and referral of high-risk youth; and infrastructure and training for similar efforts in the Navajo Nation (Shiprock site), including an intervention with youth who attempt suicide and their families.