The Alaska Youth Suicide Prevention Project will enhance and expand suicide prevention programs and services to specific regions and youth populations where suicide rates are exceedingly high. The goals and outcomes of the Alaska Youth Suicide Prevention Project include

1. Increase Alaska’s understanding that youth suicide is preventable.
2. Increase promotion of healthy social and emotional growth and youth development.
3. Increased access and availability of behavioral health services.
4. Increase use of suicide prevention research and evaluation methods.
5. Decrease suicide and suicidal behavior among Alaska’s youth.

Regional Suicide Prevention Teams (RSPTs) will be developed statewide in early 2009 and will implement the community-based planning model, Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), developing strategic regional plans to support project outcomes. Plans will incorporate a culturally responsive and sustainable approach to include early prevention, intervention and postvention strategies targeting youth. RSPTs will include representation from school districts, community youth organizations, mental health providers, churches, parent groups, juvenile justice, children’s protective services and other youth-related groups. Special emphasis will be on high risk youth populations in Alaska, including Alaska Native male teens, military youth Veterans 18-24, early teen females who have high rates of depression onset, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth, and youth in residential/institutional settings such as youth detention or foster care. The University of Alaska Anchorage, Behavioral Health Research Services (BHRS) will be conducting the project’s program evaluation including an ethnographic analysis for each region, conducting key informant interviews, assist in program evaluations for regional teams, and participating in a cross site evaluation. BHRS will also pilot a university campus program at UAA. Another GLSMA recipient, Maniilaq’s Project Life in Kotzebue region is entering into its third year of their project and Kawerak Inc. in Nome has also recently been awarded.

The purpose of Arizona's Suicide Prevention Project is to reduce the rate of completed suicide among Arizona youth, ages 15-24. The project involves developing the capacity of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) organizations to incorporate evidence based strategies and best practices into their programs. Simultaneously, the project will provide training in gatekeeping and climate improvement for education, behavioral health and juvenile corrections.

The Arizona Suicide Prevention Project is a partnership among three organizations: the Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services (ADHS/DBHS), Arizona State University (ASU), and the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition (AzSPC) and involves implementation of key components of Arizona's strategic plan for suicide prevention.

Universal components of the project involve establishment of a gatekeeper training network, provision of gatekeeper training, and ongoing training for educators, behavioral health providers, and juvenile corrections professional in suicide prevention and in how to develop a safe and supportive climate for LGBTQ youth. Mini grants will be extended to organizations that serve LGBTQ youths for selected interventions, including gatekeeper training, social marketing, parent education, youth leadership training, and other approaches to suicide prevention.

An indicated component of the project involves pilot testing an emergency room intervention with a hospital in Maricopa County. In addition, the project will work to develop referral networks to increase access to needed health services for at risk youth, as well as to expand availability of support services for survivors of suicide.

The Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) in the Injury, Suicide and Violence Prevention
(ISVP) Unit of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is coordinating Project Safety Net, a comprehensive suicide prevention initiative in seven Colorado communities. The initiative primarily targets parents, caregivers and other adults working with youth ages 10-17 in the following target populations: 1) Hispanic/Latino(a) youth; 2) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ) youth; 3) youth in the juvenile justice system; and, 4) youth enrolled in the child welfare system. The safety net will be made up of adults trained to recognize and respond to signs of suicide among youth in these populations.

The OSP will select seven Colorado counties/regions through a competitive request for proposals process open to 21 of Colorado's 64 counties that have suicide death rates above the U.S. rate and/or hospitalization rates above the Colorado rate for 10-17 year olds. The selected seven counties will participate in Project Safety Net from October 2009 to September 2012. Adults working with the populations identified above, as well as parents or caregivers, are the target population of the community initiative. Participating communities will work with a local coalition and with a subcommittee advisory council of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado (SPCC); will create and disseminate cross-system referral and follow-up protocols for treatment and/or care of suicidal youth; will train gatekeepers in the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training; and will work with a marketing specialist to create public awareness campaigns targeting potential suicide interveners

Project Safety Net will accomplish the following four goals during the three years of the cooperative agreement:
Goal One: Build capacity at the state and local levels for providing culturally competent suicide intervention and prevention services to youth.
Goal Two: Improve the ability of adults in the community to respond to suicide risk among Hispanic/Latino (a) and LBGTQ youth, and among youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
Goal Three: Ensure that youth identified as suicidal are referred to and receive appropriate services in their communities.
Goal Four: Determine the effectiveness of Project Safety Net and advance what is known about suicide prevention with youth ages 10-17.

The ISVP Unit will conduct process, outcome, and performance evaluations throughout the cooperative agreement, and will contract with an evaluation team from Colorado State University (CSU) to design and implement outcome evaluation tools in each participating community. By the end of Year Three, Project Safety Net will have a sustainability plan in place in each community, and evaluation measures will determine overall project success.

The Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition’s (DSPC) Project LIFE (Living Is For Everyone) is a comprehensive, statewide suicide prevention initiative targeting youth ages 10-24. DSPC aims to reduce negative behaviors and enhance resiliency in youth most at-risk for suicide. Project LIFE takes a public health and community-based approach to suicide prevention by identifying the broader patterns of suicidal behavior in groups and populations. The goals of Project LIFE are to prevent suicidal behaviors by enhancing resiliency, reduce the impact of suicide and suicidal behaviors on individuals, families and communities, and improve access to and availability of prevention services for vulnerable, high-risk individuals. The DSPC has mobilized over thirty state and community-based agencies to develop multiple strategies to prevent youth suicide. Project LIFE focuses on using best practices in the field because prevention programs that address risk and protective factors at multiple levels are more effective.

Strategies include:

• Gatekeeper Training, which will establish networks of responsible individuals who can respond to youth exhibiting signs of suicide risk and assist them in getting professional help;
• Social marketing campaigns that will use commercial marketing principles and techniques designed to bring about social and behavioral change;
• Peer-to-peer program which uses peers as ‘natural helpers’ to increase recognition of warning signs, improve communication skills and connect high-risk youth to professional help;
• A teen-focused, teen-only, confidential, 24-hour/seven days a week telephone Crisis Lifeline that will be created and staffed for those who need crisis support or information regarding suicidal behaviors;
• A suicide prevention website/universal portal geared toward, designed and launched to serve as an additional venue for confidential information sharing and gathering, reference materials, links to other prevention sites, agencies, and crisis hotlines;
• Suicide prevention Toolkits, to be published and distributed throughout Delaware, which will be a collection of crisis intervention and suicide prevention resources aimed at saving lives;
• An expansion of an already successful Child Development Community Policing Program  which offers immediate post-trauma counseling and follow-up care to youth and their caretakers to cope with the aftermath of violent and traumatic experiences; and 
• Provide materials to professionals and parents that will help them recognize signs of distress in children and how to seek appropriate care through outreach, school-based training, advocacy, family support and consultation.

Contact Information:
Dana L. Sawyer
Office of Prevention and Early Intervention
Delaware Children's Department
1825 Faulkland Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19805
Email: Dana.Sawyer@state.de.us


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District of Columbia Department of Mental Health

Program Description:



Washington, D.C. proposes to address youth suicide through its suicide prevention initiative, Capitol CARES: Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Risk for and Eliminating Suicide. The program involves three distinct activities to extend existing successful suicide prevention efforts in the District of Columbia: l) Gatekeeper training of special populations including schools, police, clergy and primary care providers; 2) Screening through collaborative efforts with both public and private partners; and 3) Social Marketing to educate the community about suicide prevention and potential warning signs.

The vast majority of youth ages l0-24 in D.C. are of ethnic minority decent, with approximately 82% African American and 11% Latino. Although the numbers of completed suicides for youth in D.C. is low, youth are almost twice as likely as the national sample to attempt suicide. Healthy lifestyles for thousands of D.C. children are hindered by environmental and social factors such as poverty, community violence, drugs, gangs, and child abuse. Given the risk factors and the small geographical size of the District, all youth in D.C. will be exposed to this suicide prevention program, though we will be targeting schools for screening primarily in the City's poorest neighborhoods.

We plan to saturate D.C. with QPR Gatekeeper Training to “natural gatekeepers” in schools, juvenile justice, foster care services, residential treatment centers, churches, and primary care settings such as pediatrician's offices and emergency rooms to increase awareness and response to youth distress. Mini-grants will be offered to local organizations who work with youth to help raise awareness about the relationship of suicide to related risk factors specific to urban youth such as violence exposure, trauma, substance abuse, and early and unprotected sex. A social marketing plan will be developed for the purpose of reducing stigma associated with mental health services and raising awareness about suicide behaviors and related risk factors as a public health problem in D.C.

The unique goals and objectives of this grant are to: (1) Create citywide infrastructure of linked supports for suicide prevention; (2) Increase awareness of the extent of the problem, signs and symptoms, and appropriate response for suicide risk, including related risk factors for suicide (e.g., violence exposure, gang involvement, unprotected sex, HIV/AIDS exposure, substance abuse); (3) Identify and link youth at risk for suicide to services; (4) Build capacity for referrals and ensure availability of care for youth at risk for and during a suicidal crisis; (5) Reduce suicide attempts by D.C. youth; and (6) Suicide reporting and data collection for DC will be accurate, comprehensive, and up to date. We hope to reach at least l000 youth annually through mini-grant activities. We also hope to provide QPR to at least 1000 people annually. By 2015, all residents of D.C. will have been exposed to some suicide prevention materials.

Contact Information:
Dr. Julie Goldstein-Grumet
Project Director
DC Department of Mental Health
821 Howard Road, S.E.
Room 209
Washington, DC 20032
Tel: 202-698-2470
Email: julie.goldstein@dc.gov


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Florida - University of South Florida

Program Description:



The Florida ASAP (Adolescent Suicide Awareness and Prevention) Project is enhancing the State's capacity to reach its 2010 goal of reducing the rate of suicide in youths between the ages of 10 and 24. The ASAP Project is being implemented in Duval County (DC), a large county with a youth suicide rate higher than the national average. Agencies in this community are building upon existing state and community evidence-based and culturally competent youth suicide prevention efforts and partnerships. The ASAP Project, in conjunction with Mental Health America, is enhancing the community infrastructure where suicide prevention is a targeted activity of the community's Children's Mental Health Task Force, a working collaboration of over 35 state, public, and private organizations. The targeted result will be a more comprehensive delivery of suicide prevention services. The ASAP Project is organized by 6 aims, expanding capacity with the following activities:

Aim 1, Training gatekeepers (train the trainers model) in a best practice gatekeeper training model (QPR, Question, Persuade, Refer);

Aim 2, Case Management: DC's Children's Mental Health Task Force has created strong community partnerships to ensure that identified youths are not "lost in the system." Youth identified within the participating referral network will receive a case manager, and will immediately receive a suicide assessment and be referred for treatment.  A unique position created for Aim 2 is the County Case Manager; this person is to track every identified and referred youth in the county and connect them to needed services; 

Aim 3, Training youth in a best practice gatekeeper suicide prevention program that includes a depression screening (Signs of Suicide);

Aim 4, Expanding current family involvement activities (such as implementing a Parent Suicide Prevention Advisory and Outreach Council) as well as creating a family-focused suicide prevention guide;

Aim 5, Launching a social marketing campaign that directly targets the gatekeeper, parent/caregiver and youth populations of DC; and

Aim 6, Utilization of existing crisis support services (e.g. United Way 2-1-1).

There are seven distinct service sectors within the participating referral network: education, law enforcement/ juvenile justice, child welfare, substance abuse, public health, mental health providers, and the faith-based community.  In addition to the Cross-Site Evaluation being conducted by MACRO, we are also conducting a local evaluation of each aim.  Working under the Theory of Planned Behavior, we are looking at attitudes about suicide prevention, willingness to implement changes in referral behaviors, and the relationship between trainees and trainer and its effect on knowledge gain.

Contact Information:
Marc Karver
Department of Psychology
University of South Florida
PCD 4118G
4202 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33620
Email: mkarver@chuma1.cas.usf.edu


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Georgia Youth Suicide Prevention System Development and Intervention

Program Description:

The Georgia Youth Suicide Prevention Project is building upon existing state suicide prevention efforts to extend suicide prevention/early intervention services to at-risk youth and their families. The project blends statewide prevention awareness and gatekeeper training, expanded work with universities, coalition support, and enhanced gatekeeper training in schools and advanced training for hospital staff and diverse youth-serving agencies in five target counties. Managed by the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the project is reaching youth aged 10-24 in five counties in varying state locations (Metro Atlanta and rural) with suicide death rates above the national rate, diverse populations and existing youth suicide prevention support. To build and expand statewide capacity, the project is conducting basic youth suicide prevention training among youth-serving agencies, organizations and professional groups, establishing an active Youth Suicide Prevention Subcommittee within the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Georgia and helping to develop a Georgia Strategy for Youth Suicide Prevention. In five target counties during the three year grant period, the project is supporting local suicide prevention coalition development and enhancing a network of and linkages among mental health, substance abuse, youth-serving agencies, and schools. It is working with local departments of education to implement an enhanced gatekeeper training tested in Cobb County schools in two schools per county each grant year that combines Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training for adult school staff and the Sources of Strength program to develop peer leaders that reflect a school's diversity who will convey messages of strength, hope and help to their peers. In addition to the county boards of education, the program is using the Sources of Strength model with special populations. We are training Latina teens in a community prevention program who will go into 5th grade afterschool programs and spread healthy messages. A group of teens assembled by the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgendered support programs in Atlanta will participate in the training and create a social networking presence to reach out to LGBT youth isolated in rural locations. We will do likewise for adolescents who have one or both parents on active duty in our military. Additionally, the project will implement suicide prevention and victim support training in hospital emergency departments; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to help caregivers recognize and review risk, intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide and link people with community resources; and postvention support training.

Contact Information:
Adam Lesser
Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Project Director
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
2 Peachtree Street NE
23-476
Atlanta, GA 30303
Tel: 404.463.4166
Email: amlesser@dhr.state.ga.us


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Guam Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Program Description:



Suicide in Guam may be influenced by various factors, such as culture and ethnicity. Traditionally, Guam and the other islands in Micronesian are matrilineal societies. Chamorros (Guam’s indigenous people) make up 37% of Guam’s population. The cultural practices of the Chamorros involve the importance of extended family relationships and due respect for parents and the elderly. Each individual family member is held responsible and accountable for keeping the family name and reputation in ‘good standing’ in the community, and must not bring ‘shame’ upon them.

In October 2008, Guam was awarded a Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (GLSMA) Youth Suicide Prevention grant, called Focus on Life, which targets individuals between the ages of 10-24 years. The goals of this grant are to: 
(a) establish and/or improve Guam’s surveillance and centralized monitoring and reporting system for capturing data on suicide attempts and deaths, as well as other intentional self-harming that is reportable by identified private and public sector partners;
(b) strengthen public, private and community-based partnerships with the development of culturally relevant suicide prevention resources and training for responding effectively to the community’s identified needs for suicide prevention and education, early intervention, and treatment services;
(c) strengthen Guam’s 24-Hour Crisis Hotline services with the hiring of full-time staff and recruitment and training of community volunteers;
(d) implement culturally appropriate evidence-based suicide prevention policies, programs, and practices among Guam’s key stakeholders; and
(e) evaluate the program effectiveness to reduce preventable injuries and suicides and attempts on Guam.

Contact Information:
Barbara S. Benavente
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
790 Governor Carlos G. Camacho Road
Tamuning, GU 96913
Email: bbena@guamcell.net
Email: barbara.benavente@mail.dmhsa.guam.gov

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Hawaii State Department of Health

Program Description:



In Hawaii there were 43 suicides among children aged 10 to 19 years from 2004 to 2008, making suicide the 2nd leading cause of death for this age group, after car crashes.  Hawaii, through the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), Injury Prevention and Control Program (IPCP), is using funds from the $1.5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to train people who have direct contact with youth –gatekeepers – to recognize the signs of suicide and to intervene. The goal is to reduce suicides and suicide attempts among youth.

Hawaii’s project – called the Hawaii Gatekeeper Training Initiative (HGTI) – focuses on suicide intervention training for people in three agencies that already impact significant numbers of youth ages 10-24 years in both school and community settings. These agencies and their programs are the Department of Education (PEER Education Program and School-based Behavioral Health), the Department of Health (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division – agencies contracted to provide drug and alcohol treatment services for youth), and the Honolulu Police Department (Emergency Psychological Services/Jail Diversion Program).

HGTI is accomplishing these goals using three training curricula: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) with adult populations, SafeTALK with police officers, and Signs of Suicide (SOS) with youth populations. Implementing suicide intervention training using these curricula and focusing on these target populations will allow HGTI to enhance state level infrastructure for youth suicide prevention efforts and enhance youth suicide prevention efforts.

Contact Information:
Judy Strait-Jones
Injury Prevention and Control
Hawaii State Department of Health
3675 Kilauea Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Email: judy.strait-jones@doh.hawaii.gov


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Idaho State University

Program Description:



The goal of the Idaho Awareness to Action Youth Suicide Prevention Early Intervention Project (AAYSP) is to reduce suicides among Idaho youth ages 10-24 by implementing objectives from Idaho's Suicide Prevention Plan. Proposed goals include information dissemination, collaboration with prevention stakeholders, gatekeeper training, and data collection/evaluation. The Governor's Council on Suicide Prevention will provide input and evaluate the project. An Awareness to Action Academy will be held for advocates/survivors and mental health professionals to increase suicide assessment and advocacy skills.

There are five goals that support this project, all of which reflect goals of the Idaho Suicide Prevention Plan:
1) Disseminate evidence-informed practices, including an awareness campaign toolkit, Signs of Suicide (SOS) program, and culturally appropriate practices. Train QPR trainers statewide.
2) Conduct Idaho's nationally recognized gatekeeper training, Better Today’s/Better
Tomorrows, with trainees recruited from adult caregivers representing high risk groups, including emergency services personnel and first responders, Indian tribes, Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Alaska Natives as well as LGBT groups, attempters, survivors, child welfare/foster care workers, juvenile justice, law enforcement, childcare, parents/grandparents, college campuses, and faculty/staff of Idaho's 114 school districts.
3) Collaborate with the Governor's Council on Suicide Prevention for guidance, input, and evaluation of project progress. Consult independently with specific cultural, high risk, and racial/ethnic groups not represented on the Council. Also consult with SPAN Idaho and others for Awareness Campaign activities, including evidence informed materials relevant to crisis workers, medical response and first responders, juvenile justice, childcare, foster care, sexual orientation, and previous attempters.
4) Provide stakeholders and mental health practitioners with an Awareness to Action
Academy, including an opportunity to build suicide assessment expertise and learn advocacy/leadership skills to lead Idaho from awareness of suicide risk and protective factors to a state where advocates and mental health professionals are leaders for action.
5) Participate in the cross-site evaluation including GPRA data and conduct local evaluations including quantitative and qualitative input from program participants, public, private, tribal, and family stakeholders to determine whether the project is achieving its goals, objectives, outcomes, and processes.

Most project activities will result in sustainable products and services, such as supporting sustainable SOS activities in Idaho's 114 school districts, creating a cadre of QPR trainers statewide, distributing a college workbook for suicide prevention among resident assistant housing staff, and developing suicide assessment and advocacy skills through the Awareness to Action Academy. Collaborating with the Council on Suicide Prevention will assure consistency with state priorities and support implementation through evidence-based practices.

Contact Information:
Beth Hudnell Stamm
Beth Hudnell Stamm
1001 S. 8th Ave.,
Box 8174
Pocatello, ID 83209
Tel: 208-282-4436
Email: bhstamm@isu.edu


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Indiana - Purdue University

Program Description:



The Indiana Cares Youth Suicide Prevention Project is funded by a 3-year Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant under the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program.  It is a project of the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute. It is a sister project of, and builds on the work of, the Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition.
The core of the Indiana Cares Project is the Youth Suicide Prevention Technical Assistance Center. The Technical Assistance Center provides assistance and resources to individuals, communities, and agencies across Indiana to prevent suicide among youth ages 10-24.  The Technical Assistance Center also coordinates the following activities:

• Building the capacity of youth serving systems to reduce the incidence and effects of suicide by targeting the youth serving systems to
• Raise awareness that suicide is a preventable public health issue by presenting at conferences.
• Provide best practice suicide prevention and intervention training, along with education about building resilience in youth and families.
• Develop and institutionalize policies and protocols aimed at suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.
• Providing mini grants to communities/organizations. Priority is given to those serving higher risk populations such as African American males, Latino/Latinas, LGBT, rural, and incarcerated populations.
• Piloting the Connect! Project, a comprehensive, community-based approach to preventing youth suicide that involves getting all youth serving systems working together (with similar training and protocols) to prevent and respond to youth suicide.
• Helping make suicide prevention efforts around the state more culturally competent by holding a conference, having suicide prevention materials and training available in Spanish, and encouraging tailored approaches to suicide prevention.
• Training mental health and health care providers around the state in the CALM program (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means).
• Conducting two youth suicide prevention-related conferences during the three year grant.



Contact Information:
Kathleen L. O'Connell
Purdue University (IPFW)
2101 East Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Email: oconnell@ipfw.edu


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Iowa Department of Public Health

Program Description:



Iowa’s youth are at higher risk for suicide deaths than the national average.  For the years 2000-2006, suicide was the second leading cause of death for all Iowans 15-40 years of age.  The 2008 Iowa Youth Survey identified that 10% of students surveyed admitted to one or more suicide attempts in their lifetime, and 9% admitted to having a plan within the last year.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) initially decided to approach the problem of youth suicide through mental health screening within the school system.  This was accomplished by working with partners at the local level who had a history of providing mental health screening services in their communities with one or more school screening sites. IDPH posted a request for proposals (RFP) and provided funds to five programs to expand their mental health screening programs.  With the $25,000 they receive annually, they have agreed to increase the number of youth screened, either by increasing the number of sites or screening more youth within each site. Programs funded are using the Columbia University TeenScreen® Program.  A second RFP resulted in adding two new smaller TeenScreen programs receiving $15,000 each.

The programs vary from a community non-profit organization (United Way) to local school districts, a community medical center, and two regional educational agencies. Each program used different community resources to meet the needs of program coordination, screening, mental health interview staff and mental health providers.

The statewide project includes local development of public awareness campaigns to promote family participation. Screening programs participate in grantee meetings and conference calls to exchange resources and ideas for training, screening procedures, data collection strategies and increasing participation rates.

The project epidemiologist provides requested data on youth suicide attempts and deaths and an annual report on youth suicide.  The local evaluation team has simplified the process of collecting data for the cross site evaluation, provided individual program interviews to collect data important to each site, and implemented annual project and program evaluations. Local evaluation also includes assessment of families’ satisfaction with the referral process from screening to mental health providers.

Now in our final grant year, we are expanding efforts to reach more youth by training mental health providers via the Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk program, promoting TeenScreen Primary Care and the Primary Care Toolkit, training college faculty and students through Kognito’s At-Risk web-based training program, promoting the AFSP “More than Sad” DVD series to high school student and staff, and the AFSP “Truth About Suicide” DVD to college students.

Contact Information:
Dale Chell, M.S.
Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Iowa Department of Public Health
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Tel: 515-242-5122
Email: dchell@idph.state.ia.us


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Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services

Program Description:

The purpose of the KY Suicide Prevention in Youth – a Collaborative Effort (SPYCE) project will be to raise awareness, enhance quality interventions, and utilize effective research and data collection methodologies to ultimately reduce the number of suicides completed by the youth in KY. SPYCE will use a public health model of prevention with universal, selective and indicated approaches to address the following goals: (1) increase knowledge of suicide warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors; (2) enhance suicide crisis intervention availability, quality and public awareness of service; (3) increase local community collaboration in suicide prevention; (4) establish and increase support for suicide survivors through postvention and prevention; (5) increase resiliency among youth at risk; (6) enhance existing emergency department services for youth and their families to increase culturally and linguistically-sensitive training regarding ways to reduce future self-injurious behavior through reduction of lethal means and by reducing stigma to seek treatment; and (7) provide additional training in clinical suicide risk management to medical/mental health professionals and paraprofessionals across the state. Many activities will be implemented across the state, while others will be focused within two Kentucky county school systems.

Best practices to be included are QPR, SOS, CAST, Reconnecting Youth, Emergency Department Means Restriction Education, LOSS teams; support of nationally recognized suicide prevention activities including community coalitions, survivor support groups, certification of suicide prevention crisis hotlines, and a continuation of the Suicide Prevention: It’s Everybody’s Business campaign initiated by Governor Fletcher in September 2005 via the development of a KY-specific culturally/linguistically competent suicide prevention video and a multitude of targeted media communications.

Efforts will be completed in collaboration with Kentucky stakeholders including the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, HB 843 Commission, KY Suicide Prevention Group, State Interagency Council, KY Association of Regional MHMR Planners (KARP), the KY Mental Health Coalition, the KY Pediatric Society, KY Partnership for Families and Children, KY Center for School Safety, Mental Health Association of KY, local suicide prevention coalitions, survivor support groups, and the University of Kentucky. Communications with national expert organizations including the SPRC, SPAN-USA, QPR Institute, AAS, OASSIS, AFSP, the University of Rochester, as well as suicide prevention coordinators for other states will be a part of ongoing efforts in Kentucky.



Contact Information:
Michael Mcfarland
Program Director
MHMR Program Administrator CHFS-KDMHMRS
Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse
100 Fair Oaks Lane 4E-D
Frankfort, KY 40621
Tel: 502-564-9010
Fax: 502-564-4826
Email: michael.mcfarland@ky.gov


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Louisiana Department of Health

Program Description:



The Louisiana Partnership for Youth Suicide Prevention (LPYSP) proposes to address one of the leading causes of death among LA’s adolescents and young adults: suicide. This initiative advances strategies of the LA SJ.A.R. Plan to strengthen public and private partnerships, cultivate community efforts, mobilize existing resources, expand gatekeeper training, increase awareness of youth suicide and prevention, to provide timely referral resources to families and survivors, to increase support groups for survivors, to strengthen linkages between crisis response teams.

Under the leadership of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Mental Health (OMH) this grant will expand statewide the youth suicide prevention efforts of the 2001 LA Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force. After receiving funding from the SAMHSA Garret Lee Smith Grant in 2006, the established Task Force transitioned into the new statewide collaborative known as the LPYSP. This group serves as the governing body to undertake the oversight, development, monitoring, and evaluation of program activities to reduce youth suicides and suicide attempts in LA.

The project targets 15000 youth and young adult ages 10 to 24 years old consisting of middle, high, and college students and professionals (such as OMH, DOE, 211 providers, Veterans ADM. staff) that serve this population. A high priority of this program will be early intervention, prevention and assessment services to youth and young adults who are at risk for mental or emotional disorders, or substance abuse disorders that may lead to suicide or a suicide attempts. Through partnerships across systems, the integration of suicide prevention resources and services in schools, universities, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse and mental health programs, foster care systems and other child youth support agencies that target at-risk youth population will increase their competence and awareness of youth suicide risk.

Gatekeeper trainings will be provided to all above-mentioned professionals. A series of evidenced-based trainings for 1,400 targeted agency gatekeepers will be provided statewide. A 100 member “Expert Trainers Team” will conduct a series of ASIST, Safe Talk and Suicide Talk Trainings statewide. In addition, collaborative efforts will offer activities to teens and college students that include suicide risk/depression screening; gatekeeper trainings, peer helpers training; stigma reduction and suicide awareness activities such as the annual Yellow Ribbon Media Campaign, Suicide Prevention Walk, Youth Rally and newly implemented Children’s Mental Health Week. These awareness weeks reach a total of 6000 youth, young adults and families in LA annually. Through 5 existing local coalitions and 5 new emerging local coalitions, the LPYSP will assist communities to develop competence related to suicide risk identification; improve local collaboration; and promote the coordination of culturally appropriate resources.

Contact Information:
Trina Evans Williams
DHH/Office of Mental Health
P.O. Box 4049
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Tel: 225-342-9457
Email: tevans@dhh.la.gov


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Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program

Program Description:

The Caring About Lives in Maine project will support a strategic expansion of key priorities included in the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program Plan. Funds will: 1) implement suicide prevention and early intervention strategies; 2) provide training and assistance to increase the capacity of schools and youth-serving organizations to identify youth at risk and link them to culturally competent helping resources; 3) assist colleges in learning about suicide prevention protocol development; and 4) continue collaboration to pilot the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) model of web-based outreach to high risk college students.

Community “Referral Networks” that identify and assist youth at risk for suicide will be strengthened or created between 11 high schools and community organizations including crisis services, substance abuse treatment and child and family behavioral health services. The selected high schools will implement the Maine Lifelines Program, a school-based suicide prevention program. Student Assistance Teams (SATs) in each school will implement use of an early identification Data Tickler System to record student risk factors and the effectiveness of interventions through the SAT process. Evaluation focuses on efficacy and sustainability of two key promising practices: full-day Gatekeeper Training and the Maine Lifelines Program.

Training and resources will be provided to key groups in direct contact with youth in a variety of settings including those working with youth in behavioral health, child welfare and foster care. The project will collaborate to adapt training programs with Native Americans and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). We will also partner with the Veterans Administration Suicide Prevention Program and other programs serving high risk youth in a variety of settings. Efforts will include innovative initiatives such as work in health literacy, working with youth in transition and development of materials for families of youth in the criminal justice system.

Additional objectives include enhancement of the MYSPP Steering Committee to broaden leadership in suicide prevention and integration of a sustainable suicide prevention component within state organizations. Data gathered will increase understanding of youth suicide in Maine.



Contact Information:
Cheryl DiCara
Maine Injury Prevention Program
Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program
11 State House Station
Key Bank Plaza, 286 Water Street, 5th Floor
Augusta, ME 04333-1289
Tel: 207-287-5362
Fax: 207-287-7213
Email: cheryl.m.dicara@maine.gov


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Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

Program Description:

Maryland's Linkages to Life Youth Suicide Prevention Program proposes an array of promising awareness, intervention, and postvention services for the entire State of Maryland. Special focus is placed on enhanced efforts in rural counties where mortality rates are highest in the State. The program is founded on a partnership of State and local government agencies, Medical Schools at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, and numerous private sector partner agencies. The goals of the project are directly from the State's Youth Suicide Prevention Plan: 1) AWARENESS-Maryland youth, their families and the professionals who work with them understand that suicide is preventable; 2) INTERVENTION-Culturally competent, effective and accessible community based intervention services and programs for youth are in place; 3) POSTVENTION-Effective, culturally competent professional services are accessible to youth who have attempted suicide and/or to other people affected by the suicide attempt or completion. The project will conduct broad State and local infrastructure development and service improvements in local schools statewide, providing enhancements related to suicide prevention within the state's Health Curriculum for students in the 8th grade and high school. An estimated 28,000 students are expected to take these courses. The project will also provide statewide training for a wide variety of educational personnel, including teachers, administrators, and those in the pupil support and paraprofessional workforce on suicide prevention and intervention. Local partnerships of schools, behavioral health authorities, juvenile justice and child welfare officials, and a wide range of private providers and advocacy groups will be created.

Contact Information:
Henry Westray
Mental Hygiene Administration
MD Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene
55 Wade Avenue
Spring Grove Hospital Center
Catonsville, MD 21228
Tel: 410-402-8494
Email: westrayh@dhmh.state.md.us


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Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Program Description:



The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Youth Suicide Prevention Project seeks to reduce the rate of suicide mortality and morbidity among young people ages 10-24. Its goal is to build upon earlier efforts focused on at-risk youth in communities disproportionately affected by suicide.  

The priority populations of the project include:

(1) Youth ages 10-24;
(2) Sexual minority youth, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender; (3) Youth who experience dating violence, bullying, community violence or other forms 
      of victimization;
(4) Native American youth and other youth of color;
(5) Other priority populations as identified in the regional assessments.

In Massachusetts, the risk for suicide mortality and morbidity varies significantly by region.  Data analysis identified 8 health regions out of 27 with youth suicide rates or rates of non-fatal self-inflicted injury higher than those in the state and nation.

To achieve our goal, the project has five objectives and strategies:

(1) Select 3 regional partnerships from the 8 priority regions through an RFP process;
(2) Conduct an assessment and planning process in each of the 3 regions to identify and
      describe priority populations and develop a plan and timeline for prevention,
      intervention and postvention activities with priority populations;
(3) Increase regional capacity among agency staff, gatekeepers and other stakeholders;
(4) Implement prevention, intervention and postvention strategies in years 2 and 3;
(5) Develop a timely, routine notification system in the 3 regions in order to provide
      postvention services.

Contact Information:
Alison T. Brill
GLS Youth Suicide Prevention Project
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Tel: 617-624-5299
Fax: 617-624-5075
Email: alison.brill@state.ma.us


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Michigan Department of Community Health

Program Description:



The Transforming Youth Suicide Prevention in Michigan (TYSP-Mi) Program is working to engage programs and individuals to expand suicide prevention in the state and more strongly emphasize primary prevention and early intervention. The Program will a) provide technical assistance and grants to local communities for program development and delivery; b) maintain strong gatekeeper and mental health professional training programs; and c) work to build a strong state infrastructure to support programming in the future.
Specific program activities include:

• Ongoing support through grants to eight communities to develop or enhance comprehensive local prevention and early intervention efforts.
• A Technical Assistance Program, including an annual two day technical assistance meeting, for communities not receiving grant funds to assist them with building the skills and knowledge to strengthen or initiate local efforts.
• Providing AMSR and ASIST trainings in regions of the state where trainings are currently not available.
• Building a planning and advisory structure specifically for youth suicide prevention in Michigan.
• Engaging other state departments in determining the role of state government in suicide prevention.

Contact Information:
Patricia K. Smith
Coordinator
Violence Prevention Program
Michigan Department of Community Health
P.O. Box 30195
Lansing, MI 48909
Tel: 517-335-9703
Fax: 517-335-8269


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Missouri Department of Mental Health

Program Description:



The Missouri Youth Suicide Prevention Project utilizes local community public-private partnerships to provide best practice suicide prevention with an emphasis on gatekeeper training.  A major function of the Project is to assist in achieving the goals of the Missouri Suicide Prevention Plan (MSPP) for reducing suicide and suicidal behaviors, specifically among at-risk youth ages 10 to 24 years old throughout the state.  The MSPP is based on the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and uses the AIM format (Awareness, Intervention, and Methodology).  Guided by this Plan, the Project focuses on the following five objectives for the Youth Prevention and Early Intervention Grant activities:

1. Create additional regional suicide prevention sites to implement services locally.
2. Provide mini-awards to local organizations to fund suicide prevention projects, enabling the needs of underserved at-risk populations to be addressed at the community level.
3. Work with the University of Missouri to implement suicide prevention strategies on campuses, and to provide suicide prevention training in the MU teacher pre-service education program, as well as the graduate school counselor and school psychology programs.
4. Conduct evaluation to assure fidelity with best practices and measure outcomes.
5. Build statewide and local public/private partnerships of stakeholders to raise awareness and generate support for more suicide prevention resources.

 

The project is administered by the Missouri Department of Mental Health and is independently evaluated by the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, a part of the University of Missouri School of Medicine.  The independent evaluation will assist the Department of Mental Health in assuring youth suicide prevention interventions are evidence based and tailored to the particular needs of Missouri communities.

Contact Information:
Scott Perkins
Project Director
Missouri Institute of Mental Health
Missouri Department of Mental Health
1706 E. Elm St, PO Box 687
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Tel: 573-751-8155
Fax: 573-751-7815
Email: scott.perkins@dmh.mo.gov


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Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Program Description:



Nebraska's suicide rate for youth ages 10-24 exceeds the national rate and is the second leading cause of death for Nebraskans ages 15-19. The Nebraska Suicide Prevention Project will reduce youth suicide by promoting culturally appropriate, evidence based prevention practices statewide, focusing on youth at high risk for suicide: youth involved in multiple systems, minority youth and youth in transition to adulthood, including young returning veterans.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Behavioral Health provides oversight for the grant. The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center and Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska and the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition are collaborating partners charged with carrying out grant activities and evaluating the project's progress.

The project aims to increase general awareness of suicide as a preventable public health issue and to produce measurable decreases in Nebraska's youth suicide rates through the provision of seed grants for local suicide prevention activities; training gatekeepers and clinicians to screen, recognize and act on signs of suicide; implementing screening for suicide with high risk youth; working with communities to support young returning veterans and military families in Nebraska; assisting the state's trauma centers to implement means restriction protocols; and strengthening Nebraska's public/private state suicide prevention coalition. Project activities are designed to support local, regional and state suicide prevention efforts to ensure suicide prevention is sustained in urban, rural and frontier areas of the state. The public/private State Suicide Prevention Coalition will serve as an advisory body for the grant’s project management team as it monitors progress toward reaching grant goals.

Contact Information:
Dr. Scot Adams
Director, Behavioral Health
Office of the Governor
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 98925
Lincoln, NE 68509
Tel: 402-471-8553
Email: scot.adams@nebraska.gov


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Nevada Department of Health and Human Services

Program Description:



Nevada has continually had one of the ten highest youth suicide rates in the nation. A System of Care for Youth Suicide Prevention in Nevada supports, enhances and expands suicide prevention efforts with youth ages 10-24 in three regions of Nevada (Clark County, Washoe County and the Rural Counties) by implementing goals of the Nevada Suicide Prevention Plan and building on successes of current youth suicide prevention programs in Southern Nevada.

For decades, Nevada has had one of the highest suicide rates in the nation and has consistently maintained a rate that is twice the national average. For 15 to 24 year old Nevadans, suicide is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14. The focus of this project, which is administered through the Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention, is to incorporate several existing suicide prevention efforts targeting the mental health issues of teens and their families into a comprehensive and collaborative system of care approach. The intention is to implement and expand the pilot project in Clark County into a more comprehensive and sustainable system of suicide prevention, disseminate information from the pilot project statewide, and implement a utilization-focused evaluation system to inform decision making and bring this public health crisis under control.

Nevada's Youth Suicide Prevention Program utilizes the management and leadership of two important groups: an Administrative Committee consisting of representatives from the Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention, various State agencies, 'the Statewide Behavior Health Consortium, and three locally driven and very active children's mental health consortia consisting of parents, child welfare services, mental health professionals, school personnel and sub grantees. The Office of Suicide Prevention and local consortia will work together to build upon existing infrastructure where suicide prevention is a key component to achieve the following:

Goal I. Nevada will strengthen its comprehensive statewide Suicide Prevention Plan using a quality improvement process derived from lessons learned in prior suicide prevention efforts and continue to accomplish youth-focused goals that increase awareness that suicide is preventable and decrease suicidal behaviors.

Goal II. Nevada will improve local suicide prevention planning/services in its largest community (Clark County) while developing and implementing a local suicide prevention plan in its second largest community (Washoe County). In addition to Gatekeeper Training and screening, text messaging will be implemented as a unique method of increasing youth awareness and encouraging help-seeking behavior.

Goal III. Nevada will support stakeholders in at least two of Nevada's rural communities and partner to develop, implement and evaluate local suicide prevention plans.

Goal IV. Nevada will continue to evaluate youth suicide prevention plan and programs to improve training, policy, and community collaboration.

Contact Information:
Misty Vaughan Allen
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Nevada Department of Human Resources
4126 Technology Way, Rm. 100
Carson City, NV 89706
Tel: 775-684-3475
Email: mvallen@dhhs.nv.gov


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New Hampshire - NAMI New Hampshire

Program Description:



Connect Garrett Lee Smith (CGLS) strives to reduce suicide incidents by supporting the NH Suicide Prevention Council (SPC) to implement the State Plan and increase capacity on the individual, community and systems level for suicide prevention and postvention. CGLS improves access to mental health care through early intervention and referral, builds caring communities, clarifies service provider roles and responsibilities, changes attitudes and behaviors, and enhances skills.

Goal #1: Promote implementation of the State Plan by providing technical assistance and consultation to the SPC. CGLS will partner with SPC to: strengthen relationships across systems, educate policy leaders, and enhance awareness of cultural needs.
Goal #2: Establish a statewide environment that improves the understanding and response capacity of systems to high risk youth by educating, training, and reducing stigma related to mental health/substance use disorders. CGLS will train key service providers to address target populations including survivors, veterans/military, GLBT, Indians, substance-involved youth, foster care and attempt survivors by training 600 statewide leaders annually for a total of 1,800, utilizing the Best Practice programs of Connect, AMSR and CALM. CGLS will disseminate 7,000 media products annually for a total of 21,000 promoting help-seeking behavior and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Goal #3: Strengthen the ability of regional coalitions and key stakeholders to recognize youth at risk, provide an integrated culturally-competent response, and connect them to appropriate resources by implementing the Connect National Best Practice suicide prevention, early intervention and postvention program. The northernmost NH region is rural, isolated, economically depressed, with substance use and suicide rates that greatly exceed both the state and national averages. Working with regional coalitions and service providers, to strengthen relationships to address the target populations, CGLS will train 600 participants annually for a total of 1,800 in the Connect model.
Goal #4: Improve the quality of NH's suicide prevention, intervention and postvention activities by conducting local and cross site evaluation and enhancing the capacity of existing statewide data surveillance systems. CGLS will work with the SPC Data Committee to improve data collection, data analysis and reporting between systems so key decision makers can allocate resources based on objective information. Local and cross-site data will be used strategically to inform and improve project performance.
Goal #5: Promote sustain ability of suicide prevention, intervention and postvention efforts in NH by implementing the NH State Plan. CGLS will: a) develop an educated leadership, b) strengthen public/private partnerships, c) expand help-seeking efforts through public education d) improve data monitoring and surveillance activities and e) improve public policy and statewide financial support. Evaluation guides all CGLS activities

Contact Information:
Ken Norton
Special Projects Director
Frameworks Suicide Prevention
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Hampshire
15 Green Street
Concord, NH 03301
Tel: 603-225-5359
Fax: 603-228-8848
Email: knorton@naminh.org


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North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Program Description:



The North Carolina project utilizes three main components:

1. A Communications Campaign developed from youth focus groups.
2. Increasing LivingWorks trainer capacity.
3. Providing LivingWorks gatekeeper training programs, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and safeTALK, to selected public school staff and school mental centers.

‘Saving Tomorrows Today: Supporting Schools’ will increase the capacity of public schools’ Child and Family Support Teams and School-Based/School-Linked Health Center staff for youth suicide prevention by providing training to identify youth at risk for suicide and to link them with mental health treatment. The effort will be supported by a communications campaign, guided by input from youth focus groups, to reduce the stigma of mental illness and encouraging help-seeking behavior.

The North Carolina Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force led the development of Saving Tomorrows Today: North Carolina's Plan to Prevent Youth Suicide in 2004. The state's Division of Public Health and Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services are charged with implementing the plan. Several of the plan's objectives have been accomplished and work on others is progressing. This proposed project will support further implementation of this plan and expand collaboration and partnerships directly involved in prevention youth suicides and attempts.

The Mental Health Association in North Carolina will implement a communications campaign using multiple messages and media that target youth. This will support interventions of school personnel to identify youth at risk for suicide or suicide attempts and assure that they receive appropriate mental health treatment. Child and Family Support Teams and School-based/School-linked health center staff will receive ASIST gatekeeper training, and other school personnel will receive training in SafeTALK, an abbreviated form of the training. It is anticipated that this training, supported by the communications focusing on youth in the schools, will increase the numbers of at-risk youth identified and successfully linked with mental health services in the school and/or community.
The University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center will work with the project on gatekeeper training data collection and conduct independent evaluation of training outcomes.

Contact Information:
Jane A. Miller
Department of Health and Human Services
1915 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Email: Jane.Miller@ncmail.net


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North Dakota Department of Health

Program Description:

The The State of North Dakota Department of Health/Division of Injury Prevention and Control has developed a prevention and early intervention initiative for tribal and rural youth (ages ten to 24) whose risk of suicide mortality is 300% of the national average. The goal is to reduce youth suicide mortality by 10% in four of the six high-risk areas of North Dakota in year one, and to sustain a 25% reduction over three years. Based on the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action and North Dakota's Suicide Prevention Plan, the initiative addresses specific objectives in the six high-risk areas of North Dakota:
• Develop broad-based support for suicide prevention.
• Expand data collection on completed and attempted suicides of North Dakota youth ages ten to 24.
• Implement community-based programs in six areas of the state and one or more universities/colleges with high rates of youth suicide mortality.
• Increase public awareness of youth suicide prevention in ND.
• Provide training to 95,155 individuals (15% of North Dakota's population) for recognition of at-risk behavior and delivery of effective treatment or services.
A collaborative program, the initiative involves partnerships among tribal, rural, state, and private stakeholders, as well as consumers and families. The North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Project (NDASPP), a subcontractor for the initiative, recently received the "Public Health Practice Award" from the American Public Health Association. The five-year trend since the start of the NDASPP shows a sustained reduction of 32% in suicide fatalities among youth (ages ten to 24) across North Dakota, as compared to the ten year average in the 1990s. The North Dakota Department of Health now seeks funding to extend this trend to youth in high-risk rural and tribal areas where the likelihood of youth suicide is fully 300% of the national average.

Contact Information:
Gail H. Erickson
Director, Suicide Prevention Program
Division of Injury Prevention and Control
ND Department of Health
600 East Blvd Avenue
Dept. 301
Bismarck, ND 58505
Tel: 701-328-4580
Fax: 701-328-1412
Email: gherickson@nd.gov


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Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

Program Description:

The State of Oklahoma proposes to utilize this funding opportunity for the continued provision of the Oklahoma Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Initiative. Funding for the initiative will be used to implement evidence-based youth (ages 10-24) suicide prevention programs throughout the State of Oklahoma through university, tribal, and community-based contracted providers and through the coordination and implementation of the state's suicide prevention plan. As a Cohort I grantee of SAMSHA's Garrett Lee Smith Project in 2005, the State of Oklahoma has taken important steps toward the development of a public health infrastructure that is conducive to the prevention of suicide among the youth population. Targeted projects were initiated in three communities, a state university, and a tribal government/ community. Across the state, universities, schools, hospitals, faith communities, public health entities, armed forces, mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities, and other youth-serving agencies received suicide prevention and early intervention training and adopted training and other prevention modalities as part of their institutional protocol. In addition, Oklahoma's Youth Suicide Prevention Council leveraged grant funding to strengthen statewide collaboration and initiate suicide prevention activities statewide. Project goals include: Promote public awareness that suicide is a public health problem and is preventable; Implement community-based suicide prevention programs utilizing evidence-based strategies; Implement training for recognition and referral of at risk behavior for suicide; and Develop strategic partnerships to improve statewide and institutional infrastructure that supports and sustains suicide prevention. The proposed catchment area is the state of Oklahoma and seven communities funded to provide community-based services.

Contact Information:
Julie Geddes
Senior Field Representative
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
1200 NE 13th
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Tel: 405-522-3835
Email: jgeddes@odmhsas.org


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Oregon Department of Human Services

Program Description:



Oregon’s Caring Connections Program will be implemented by the Oregon Public Health Division Youth Suicide Prevention Program in 14 counties and 9 Tribes. Project activities include: a coalition; community awareness campaigns; gatekeeper training; attempt reports by emergency departments to document patient access to community resources after discharge for treatment for a suicide attempt, and use of those data to determine the need for outreach; comprehensive high school based RESPONSE program; and evaluation. The nine recognized Oregon tribes will hold a youth gathering with educational, cultural, and team-building activities, speakers, and information to increase protective factors for youth. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among youth. The goal is to reduce suicide among youth aged 15-24.

The program is implemented in the county and tribal sites by existing Prevention Coordinators. Site selection is based on four criteria: suicide and suicide attempt rates, letter of intent, and finalization of contracting elements. Prevention coordinators will implement gatekeeper training, work with schools to implement RESPONSE, and convene an existing local coalition to implement community awareness campaigns. Emergency departments will report suicide attempts and results of follow up calls, and use those data to determine the need for outreach. The project evaluator will work with the State Advisory Committee to monitor progress and plan for future expansion of program activities statewide. Expected short-term project outcomes include: increased referrals to care, increased linkage to care, decreased barriers to care, increased knowledge among clinicians, crisis response workers, school staff, youth, and lay persons, and increased social support for survivors.   
     
The Oregon Caring Connections Program, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is implemented by the Oregon Department of Human Services in partnership with the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Portland State University Regional Institute for Human Services, the Oregon Partnership, the Office of Multicultural Health, other advocacy organizations, and local care systems and educational institutions.

Contact Information:
Lisa Millet
Oregon Dept. of Human Services
800 NE Oregon Street,
Suite 772
Portland, OR 97232
Tel: 971-673-1059
Email: Lisa.M.Millet@state.or.us


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Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

Program Description:



The Youth Suicide Prevention in Primary Care project is building a youth (ages 14 to 24) suicide prevention program within the primary care medical system that provides screening, assessment, family engagement, and linkage to treatment. This project is being piloted in three counties in northeastern Pennsylvania (Schuylkill, Lackawanna and Luzerne) that have some of the highest rates of suicide death and hospitalization for self injury in the state. The rationale of the study is as follows: 1) A major challenge in suicide prevention work is locating adolescents before they attempt suicide. 2) Fortunately, over 70% of adolescents see a physician at least once a year (US. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001), making primary care a potentially important gatekeeper for adolescent mental health (Johnson & Milstein, 2003, Presidents New Freedom Commission 2003).

The project has five main objectives: 1) Create a partnership within each county consisting of policy makers, medical and behavioral health care providers, local suicide task forces, families, and local medical and behavioral health insurance companies. 2) Provide a youth suicide gatekeeper training program to participating pediatricians, family physicians, and nurse practitioners in the designated counties. 3) Provide medical practitioners in the three counties free access to a web-based, patient self-report screening tool to assess for suicide and related risk factors. 4) Increase the integration, if not collocation, of behavioral health services with medical services. 5) Provide clinical training in best practice therapy models for suicidal youth to behavioral health providers who will receive referrals of these at-risk youth.

The project has made substantial progress toward these goals to date. A broad coalition of stakeholders has mobilized to implement and offer advice about this project. All three counties now have active Suicide Prevention Task Forces that include a variety of community members. Five primary care practices are currently participating in the project. These practices have received suicide risk assessment trainings, and are currently using the web-based screening tool in their practices. Five additional primary care practices will be joining the project in the near future. Many behavioral health partners have been identified in each county and the project has provided trainings to these providers about two therapy models (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Attachment Based Family Therapy) and information on co-occurring disorders for suicidal youth.

Contact Information:
Sharon Peters
DPW/OMHSAS
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Email: shepeters@state.pa.us


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Rhode Island Department of Health

Program Description:



The RI Youth Suicide Prevention Project (RIYSPP) will implement best practice suicide prevention education programs in selected public schools and community-based organizations that serve adolescents and their families. The project will provide a safety net for at-risk youth by instituting screening, identification, and referral protocols; training gatekeepers; and providing a media campaign about who is at risk and how to respond. The proposed project will focus on adolescents and young adults living in Rhode Island's "core" cities. These cities are characterized by high rates of children living in poverty (15% or more), large minority populations, and other risk factors such as an over-representation of youth involved with juvenile justice and child welfare systems; higher rates of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence; higher rates of witnessing domestic violence; higher rates of incarcerated parents; and higher rates of homelessness. The cities are Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Woonsocket, Newport, and West Warwick.

RI Student Assistance Services (RISAS) will utilize the nationally recognized best practice program, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) as the gatekeeper training model. The trainings will be phased in over the grant period in a graduated manner, beginning with Instructor Training for designated RISAS staff.  These QPR certified trainers will provide first responder and gatekeeper trainings for school personnel, community based organizations, employers of youth/young adults, students, and parents in the core cities over the course of the grant.  Additionally, RISAS is partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) for the Interactive Screening Program (ISP), which will be utilized to provide stress and depression screening to college students on site. Young Voices and Youth Pride will be conducting youth focus groups targeting minority youth to inform the project as we go forward. Youth Pride will also work with RISAS to develop a training component for first responders and gatekeepers on issues pertaining to GLBTQQ youth.  Additional Project components include a communications initiative to reduce the stigma associated with seeking treatment and RI medical school and MPH curriculum enhancements through a partnership with Brown University.

Contact Information:
Beatriz Perez
Rhode Island Department of Health
3 Capital Hill
Providence, RI 02908
Email: beatriz.perez@health.ri.gov


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South Carolina - Mental Health America of South Carolina

Program Description:

Mental Health America’s proposed suicide prevention program is a state-sponsored initiative that will implement early intervention and prevention programs in schools, colleges, substance abuse systems, mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations. It is based on the South Carolina Suicide Prevention Plan, a state plan created by a public and private organization partnership. The project’s purpose is to reduce suicide attempts and completions in South Carolina for youths aged 10-24. Specifically, the program will 1) implement the Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training in the schools, universities, and to community gatekeepers; 2) Provide crisis resources to suicide attempters crisis access points (e.g., emergency rooms); 3) establish Survivors of Suicide support groups in the counties within three SC regions; 4) create a Statewide Suicide Prevention On-Line Resource Guide which will include pertinent resource information for assessment, treatment providers, survivors’ support groups and other resources for individuals and families; and 5) promote suicide education and awareness through a public outreach campaign.

With suicide as the third leading cause of death among youth and with the increase of 109 percent from 1980 to 1997, youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies must be creative and effective in tackling the issue of youth suicide. The national average rate of suicide for ages 10 to 24 is 6.78 per 100,000 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). While South Carolina’s overall rate of 5.1 does not exceed the national average, specific regions within the state are in dire need of services. The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) divides the state into eight regions for service provision and statistical analysis. Compared to the state’s relatively low youth suicide rates, three of these regions have remarkably high rates. Based on the South Carolina’s mortality and morbidity statistics, the average rate from 1999 to 2004 is 7.9, 7.7, and 8.5 in Regions 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

Mental Health America will continue a public-private partnership with the SC Suicide Prevention Coalition, which has been involved with suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention activities since 2003. The Coalition helped develop the state suicide prevention plan and will serve as an ad-hoc steering committee to provide oversight and feedback to the project. The 23 local Mental Health America affiliate partnerships will be utilized in the suicide prevention activities. Additionally, project staff will partner with the University of South Carolina to deliver and evaluate culturally competent program content.



Contact Information:
Joy Jay, M.ED
Executive Director
Mental Health Association in South Carolina
1822 Gadsden Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Tel: 803-779-5363


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South Dakota Divison of Mental Health

Program Description:



South Dakota’s Community Partnership for Suicide Prevention (CPSP) will strengthen the capacity in South Dakota communities and schools to plan, implement, and sustain evidence-based suicide prevention programs that reduce suicide attempts and fatalities. Local community Project Sites will also increase their ability to collect, analyze, and present local suicide related data. Additionally, the project will work with colleges or universities and veteran populations.
South Dakota’s suicide rate ranks as 9thi highest in the United States across age groups and 7th highest for youth and young adults age 15 to 24. The suicide rate for this age group (20.2 per 100,000) is almost double the national rate (11.0). In people ages 15-19, the suicide rate in South Dakota (20.3) is more than two-and-a-half times the national rate (7.6). In an effort to reduce suicide attempts and completions in South Dakota, the CPSP will provide continued growth in the referral and service network between schools, community mental health centers, substance abuse providers, juvenile justice, and child protective services. This system of care will be strengthened through training and technical assistance so that communities can create a safety net for identifying, referring and assisting those at risk for suicide.
 
The CPSP is based on the South Dakota Strategy for Suicide Prevention, a state plan created by a public and private organization partnership, and will target youth and young adults aged 14-24. Specifically, the program will 1) create Local Community Groups (LCGs) that are public-private partnerships focused on suicide prevention; 2) provide trainings and technical assistance to members of each LCG and school staff; 3) provide a student curriculum in schools within Project Site communities; 4) organize a gatekeeper training for community members; 5) develop local suicide prevention policies among multiple agencies and groups within the community including methods and procedures for tracking suicide related data; 6) implement suicide prevention campaigns, 7) provide information to parents, 8) deliver information and trainings that provide attention to the culture of military personnel and their families. The CPSP hopes to reach 2000 youth and over 3000 adults with training, information and education throughout the life of the grant.

South Dakota’s Division of Mental Health (DMH) will support this grant project through grant funding to local community groups. The DMH will work with consultants experienced in suicide prevention to provide the training and technical assistance such communities require. The Workgroup that helped develop the state suicide prevention plan will serve as an ad-hoc steering committee and work with lead contacts from each community (who will form the advisory group) to provide oversight and feedback to the project.

Contact Information:
Shawna Fullerton
Manager
Community Based Mental Health
South Dakota Dept of Human Services
Hillsview Plaza, East Highway 34
c/o 500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Tel: 605-773-5991
Fax: 605-773-7076
Email: shawna.fullerton@state.sd.us


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Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities

Program Description:



The Tennessee Lives Count/Youth Suicide Prevention Early Intervention Juvenile Justice Project (TLC/JJ) is a statewide early intervention/prevention project to reduce suicides/attempts for youth (ages 10-24). This project involves youth remanded to the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Service/Juvenile Justice Division. Youth in the juvenile justice system have much higher rates of suicide; and the attempt rate for these youth is more than three times that of other youth. Also, suicide is the leading cause of death for youth in residential facilities.

TLC/JJ will build on the success of its first grant cycle by addressing youth and the staff who work with these youth in the Juvenile Justice system. TLC/JJ will target JJ staff, community leaders as well as the youth served in this system. This approach is more specific and comprehensive then the first TLC project, which provided an enhanced version of QPR to over 18,000 adults in various child serving organizations statewide that work with high risk youth. 

TLC/JJ includes advanced gatekeeper training utilizing the ASIST model for all staff in the Youth Development Centers and residential facilities. Other Juvenile Justice staff, such as probation officers, will be invited as well. TLC/JJ also involves gatekeeper training for community leaders using the two- hour Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) model developed during the first grant cycle, with the intention of promoting a sense of connectedness for the youth once they return to their communities. The youth in the community residential programs will receive peer suicide awareness training using the Promise for Tomorrow curriculum.

TLC/JJ builds on the governance structure from the first GLS grant and has added more representation from the leadership in Tennessee’s juvenile justice arena. Additionally, the project will include a needs assessment segment, interagency and department MOUs, policy recommendations, an anti-stigma social marketing campaign, recommendations for university curricula enhancement, and a sustainability plan.

Our project is statewide and very inclusive. We tried to build on the success of the first grant, obtaining the support of the DCS/JJ State Department and incorporating their ideas and needs into our grant proposal. Examples of this collaboration include adding a commissioner-appointed TDCS staff member to our governance group and management team. On-going communication and frequent updates will further assure they remain in the loop.

We have demonstrated that implementing a statewide approach is feasible, and our team previously published an article in Professional Psychology; Research and Practice detailing the results of our efforts. Our team is strong, willing to disagree but willing to compromise and always open to share concerns. Our partners and our team share a common goal - to save young lives.

Contact Information:
Lygia Williams
Principal Investigator/TLC Project
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Cordell Hall
425 5th Ave North, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Tel: 615-253-5078
Fax: 615-253-5080
Email: lygia.williams@state.tn.us


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Texas Department of State Health Services

Program Description:



The Texas Youth Suicide Prevention Project (TYSP) will provide suicide prevention and early intervention activities statewide targeting youth at higher risk of suicide. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will provide leadership for the TYSP whose purpose is to develop and implement youth early intervention and prevention strategies of the Texas State Plan for Suicide Prevention and the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, and to monitor the effectiveness of the strategies.

Measurable objectives are to increase public knowledge of youth suicide, its risk factors and best practices for prevention; increase the number of gatekeepers in schools, juvenile justice and other community settings serving youth with higher rates of suicide; and increase the number of youth in military families who receive suicide prevention and mental health screening, referrals, treatment and follow-up. Strategies include an annual symposium, bilingual education materials in a variety of media, prevention and postvention toolkit, nonproprietary gatekeeper development and training, model protocols, social marketing, and screening, assessment, referral and follow-up.

DSHS will continue working with their project partners -- Mental Health America of Texas (MHAT) in Austin and the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS) in San Antonio.  MHAT will ensure that all statewide public awareness and capacity building grant activities take place.  CHCS will be responsible for the oversight of all direct services, including the youth suicide screening, prevention and intervention program at Brooke Army Medical Center Child and Adolescent Mental Health services and Fort Sam Houston Independent School District.  CHCS began the first pilot study in the nation that focused on providing community mental health and suicide risk screenings and referrals for youth in military families.   Redstone Analytics will be responsible for data analysis and data base development for key aspects of the SAMHSA cross-site and local evaluation efforts.   Key numbers to be served in three years: youth in military families -750; gatekeepers for higher risk youth - 4,050; gatekeeper instructors trained - 70; educational materials distributed - 142,700; symposium attendance – 330.

Contact Information:
Joshua Martin, MA, LPC
Texas Youth Suicide Prevention Project Director
Texas Department of State Health Services
909 W. 45th. St.
Mail Code 2018
Austin, TX 78751
Tel: 512-206-4695
Email: joshua.martin@dshs.state.tx.us


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Vermont - Center for Health of Learning

Program Description:

The Center for Health and Learning and the Vermont Department of Mental Health are partnering to strengthen and expand youth suicide prevention and intervention in Vermont through collaboration between multiple agencies and organizations. There are six major areas of focus: 1. Building infra-structure in Vermont for youth suicide prevention by engaging the Vermont Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition (VYSPC) in four annual meetings per year. 2. Collaboration with the United Ways of Vermont on a statewide public information campaign aimed at de-stigmatizing mental health issues and normalizing help seeking behavior, referring the public to resources (e.g., 2-1-1 line, local and web-based resources and including production of brochures, posters and media placements for targeted audiences). 3. Statewide school-based Gatekeeper Training and protocols development, using the Maine Model. This includes four components: a) Gatekeeper Training b) Protocols Development c) Training of Trainers for those delivering the Lifelines student lessons d) Staff and Parent Awareness programs. 4. Statewide community-based Gatekeeper training for four major audiences: a) Primary Care Providers b) Law Enforcement c) Youth Serving Professionals (AHS related), Mental health and Substance Abuse Professionals, Juvenile Justice, Foster Care, Social Workers, community-based professionals, and d) Emergency Medical Care Providers. The latter two will be a Training of Trainers where participants will be asked to go back to their settings and conduct awareness raising sessions. 5. Intensive community-based intervention by collaborating with the VT Department of Health on identifying two communities engaged in implementing the Strategic Prevention Framework for Substance Abuse prevention and implementing the New Hampshire Frameworks model. 6. Working with Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP) at the University of Vermont to implement targeted interventions aimed at college-age students.

Website Address: www.healthandlearning.org



Contact Information:
JoEllen Tarrallo-Flak
Center for Health and Learning
28 Vernon Street
Suite 319
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Email: joellen@healthandlearning.org


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Virginia Department of Health

Program Description:

This proposal seeks to maintain the suicide prevention infrastructure developed in Virginia under the previous three years of Garrett Lee Smith Act (GLS) funding and to continue to address needs identified in the Commonwealth’s suicide prevention plans —The Youth Suicide Plan and the Commonwealth Lifespan Plan. The specific goals of the project are to: (1) provide state leadership to secure broad based support for suicide prevention in Virginia (2) raise statewide awareness about risk factors for suicide and encourage help seeking; (3) improve comprehensive community-based prevention/early intervention programming in specific focus areas in Virginia; (4) improve campus based suicide prevention and intervention at Virginia institutions of higher education; (5) improve youth suicide surveillance, needs assessment and program evaluation. This grant will focus prevention activities in six target areas with high suicide rates. Additionally, this grant will assist the state health department in working on a more widespread basis with campuses on student mental health assessment and the development of prevention policies and practices. The health department will continue to use nationally recognized, evidence-based practices in the implementation of prevention, early intervention and referral activities associated with this grant.

This grant provides for a multi-site, multi-stakeholder approach to youth suicide prevention and early intervention. This has been a major factor in securing broad buy-in and general support of the project initiatives.



Contact Information:
Christina Sloan
Youth Suicide Prevention Manager
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor Street,
8th Floor
Richmond, VA 23218
Tel: 804-864-7736
Fax: 804-864-7748
Email: Christina.Sloan@vdh.virginia.gov


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Washington State Department of Health

Program Description:

The Washington State Department of Health has led activities in suicide prevention since 1994, by providing epidemiological support, implementing best practices and promoting community based prevention programs throughout Washington. Initiatives, funded from the Washington State Legislature through the General Fund, have primarily focused on raising public awareness, training those who work directly with youth, and working with communities and schools to implement prevention programs. Our goal for this grant is to reduce suicide risk among high risk groups by expanding our efforts and building infrastructure to address the complex needs of these particular populations. Grant funding will be combined with the state support described above, allowing us to enhance our statewide presence and provide sustainable resources and tools to prevent suicide. Elements of this project include:
1. Establishing and maintaining a statewide coalition focused on suicide prevention to help coordinate prevention activities and to provide opportunities for traditional and nontraditional partners to collaborate on suicide prevention projects.
2. Convening college campus students, staff and faculty at 4 college campuses in Pierce County to implement effective or promising suicide prevention strategies;
3. Implementing evidence-based suicide prevention strategies with one community based organization that serves at-risk youth and two Native American organizations
The Department of Health is the lead agency, providing key programmatic and evaluation staff for this project. Contracts are in place with agencies, tribes, and institutions of higher education as noted above. A contract is established with the Youth Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP) to support activities of the local projects and of the coalition. Several trainings have occurred at local sites and two Assessment and Managing Suicide Risk trainings were sponsored under this grant. Local activities are under way, with several sites working with work groups and local coalitions to implement their activities.

Contact Information:
Debbie Ruggles
Office of EMS and Trauma Systems
Washington State Department of Health
P.O. Box 47853
310 Israel Road
Olympia, WA 98504-7853
Tel: 360-236-2859
Fax: 360-236-2830
Email: Debbie.ruggles@doh.wa.gov


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West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Program Description:



ASPEN is a project that will provide comprehensive, multifaceted, protective measures of suicide prevention and early intervention for the adolescent population, ages 15-24. Direct services of ASPEN will be provided in a multitude of venues and populations in order to enhance adolescent suicide prevention by increasing awareness, screening, and access to clinical services for identified at-risk youth. Trainings will be conducted to acknowledge the prevalence and significance of suicide in order to promote it as a public health concern as well as to provide for increased recognition, referral, and protective factors for both professionals and students. Education, communication, collaboration, and connections among the entities interacting with at risk youth will be enhanced in order to rectify system gaps so as to facilitate a culturally competent, caring, comprehensive, sustainable suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention system of care.

West Virginia will build on its initial ASPEN experiences in expanding to additional populations of at-risk adolescents in Kanawha County, as well as new geographic regions consisting of five mostly rural counties with high incident rates. In Kanawha county, efforts to reach new populations of adolescents, in addition to new populations of individuals interacting with youth, will include at-risk adolescents presenting at hospital emergency departments, students in higher education, veterans, juvenile justice agencies, foster care, and youth serving community entities. In the newly identified counties, the project proposes to serve youth in the secondary schools by increasing awareness and screening; ultimately facilitating a mobile quick response team to serve at-risk students.

Collaboration with key stakeholders will enhance the implementation of the project as well as provide for increased efforts of sustainability. ASPEN will continue to work with the West Virginia Council for the Prevention of Suicide as a key stakeholder in the project. In addition, collaborative efforts with secondary and post-secondary school systems, child-serving agencies, non-profit menta1 health agencies, primary care clinics, and hospitals will facilitate cross-system identification, referral and response for at-risk individuals.

The evaluation component of the ASPEN project will enable progress monitoring in frequent measurement of goal and objective implementation. In addition, such measures will provide timely input of successfully carrying out project directives. Finally, results will be shared with other counties throughout West Virginia and Appalachia, as well as nationally, in order to achieve a comprehensive adolescent suicide prevention approach.

Contact Information:
David Majic
Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities
350 Capitol Street, Rm. 350
Charleston, WV 25301-3702
Tel: 304-558-3633
Fax: 304-558-1008
Email: dmajic@wvdhhr.org


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Wisconsin - Mental Health America of Wisconsin

Program Description:

Wisconsin will utilize a mentoring and expert consultation approach to develop culturally sensitive, cross systems and consumer inclusive projects in 9 communities with elevated risk of youth suicide and then disseminate information on best practices through regional sharing sessions, a toolkit, and a list serve. This process will create an infrastructure and increased capacity to support the development of further projects. Wisconsin will educate all project sites on identifying at-risk groups in their communities but will focus particular attention on the following three target populations with elevated risk for suicide: Native American youth, youth who are deaf/hard of hearing, and youth in rural areas. Project sites will be required to include the major youth-serving systems as part of their local coalitions, as well as including parents, mental health consumers, public health and primary care, faith communities and other stakeholders. Involvement of survivors of suicide will be strongly encouraged.

Wisconsin will also support suicide prevention in other areas of the state through the following: providing consultation and training to other sites as requested; developing and disseminating best practice postvention guidelines for schools and communities; developing and disseminating a suicide prevention bulletin for school administrators to provide education about the role of schools in preventing suicide; and participating in planning for the annual Crisis Intervention Conference in order to utilize this highly attended event to disseminate information.

We will hold a summit of stakeholders from across the state in grant year three to identify how we can build on what we have learned to promote a sustainable infrastructure for future suicide prevention efforts.



Contact Information:
Shel Gross
Mental Health America of Wisconsin
133 S. Butler St., Rm. 330
Madison, WI 53703
Tel: 608-442-7907
Email: shelgross@tds.net


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Wyoming Department of Health

Program Description:



The overarching mission of the Wyoming Youth Suicide Prevention(WYSP) Initiative is the reduction of suicidal behaviors among the approximately 110,000 Wyoming youth aged 10-24. The WYSP Initiative employs a public-health approach to prevention, relying on evidence-based models, best practices, and strong program evaluation. Emphasis will be placed on stigma reduction, environmental change, and positive community norms. The strategies proposed are based on the State Suicide Prevention Plan and build on existing state and community youth suicide prevention efforts and partnerships. An innovative component of the instant proposal is a plan to utilize the five-step strategic framework model within targeted communities. This process will include local needs assessment, strategic planning, implementation, and program evaluation of comprehensive suicide prevention strategies.

The state agency responsible for the WYSP Initiative is the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Within WDH, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division has primary responsibility for implementation of program objectives and operational oversight of the initiative. The Division provides state-level leadership, funding through provider contracts and technical support for all suicide prevention and early intervention activities in Wyoming. The Division also is responsible for leading statewide media efforts and for providing training on suicide alertness and intervention skills training across Wyoming.

The WYSP Initiative comprises five key objectives that directly support the State of Wyoming Suicide Prevention Plan and the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. These are (1) Statewide Coordination and Leadership; (2) School-Based Initiatives; (3) Community-Based Prevention and Early Intervention; (4) Programs for High-Risk Youth; and (5) Anti-Stigma and Public Awareness. The initiative is supported by an active Wyoming Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (WySPAC), which includes leaders and stakeholders from across the state with a special interest and/or expertise in areas related to youth suicide prevention. WySPAC provides advice and consultation in development, implementation and evaluation of the objectives and programs of the WYSP Initiative.

During the grant period, WDH will work closely with an outside evaluator from the University of Wyoming, Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC). WYSAC was created by executive order of the governor as Wyoming's clearinghouse for policy studies and evaluation research and has a proven record evaluating state and federal prevention programs in Wyoming. This includes current evaluations of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Program at the University of Wyoming. Their evaluation of the State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention Grant will include three data/program performance assessment efforts. These efforts include data and performance measures to satisfy GPRA requirements, cooperation, and participation in a cross-site evaluation and an annual self-evaluation of outcomes and activities.

Contact Information:
R. Keith Hotle, J.D., M.P.A.
Project Director
Wyoming Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative & Suicide Program Manager
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division
6101 Yellowstone Road, Room 220,
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Tel: 307-777-3318
Fax: 307-777-5580
Email: keith.hotle@health.wyo.gov


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The SPRC is supported by a grant (1 U79 SM57392-05) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). No official endorsement by SAMHSA or DHHS for the information on this web site is intended or should be inferred.

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