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The Weekly Spark – Week of July 2, 2009

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

New suicide prevention toolkit available Ensuring the seventh generation: A youth suicide prevention toolkit for tribal child welfare programs
National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) was funded by the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc. to develop and disseminate the Ensuring the seventh generation: Youth suicide prevention toolkit for child welfare and mental health programs. The toolkit was created to educate tribal child welfare workers of the warning signs of suicide, risk and protective factors, suicide prevention and intervention methods, and when such workers should seek professional mental health services for children. NICWA is the primary technical assistance provider for the tribal Systems of Care and Circles of Care grantees of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

For more information http://library.sprc.org/item.php?id=659

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RESEARCH SUMMARIES:

Recent psychopathology, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in households with and without firearms: Findings from the National Comorbidity Study Replication.
Miller, M., Barber, C., Azreal, D., Hemenway, D., & Molnar, B.E. (2009). Injury Prevention, 15(3), 183-187.

Many studies have shown the presence of a firearm in the home to be associated with increased risk for suicide. Some have postulated that the explanation might be that the individuals living in these homes were also more likely to have current or recent mental health or substance abuse problems. This study of a nationally representative adult sample (n = 9282) found that the 35 percent of the population living in homes where firearms are present were neither more nor less likely to have had a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder, or to have had suicidal ideation, in the past 12 months than those living in homes without firearms. These findings held even after accounting for several factors that could have influenced the result, such as age, race, education, geographic region and urbanicity. By contrast, people who had made a suicide attempt in the past year were less likely to have firearms present in their homes than the general population, a finding that was also true of those who had been hospitalized for psychiatric disorders. Is it possible that those who had made a suicide attempt or had been psychiatrically hospitalized had subsequently purged their homes of firearms on the advice of a clinician? This study’s finding that a third of all individuals with suicide ideation or mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder are living in homes where firearms are present poses the challenge of developing methods to significantly reduce that statistic.
Link to Abstract

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NEWS HEADLINES:

National News

Study finds surprising number of teens think they’ll die young, leading to risky behavior, The Los Angeles Times, Jun. 29, 2009
According to a new study based on nationally representative survey data, almost 15 percent of kids in grades 7 to 12 believe they have a good chance of dying before age 35. Over the seven-year study period, kids who said they were likely to die young were more likely than more optimistic youth to attempt suicide or to engage in risky behaviors such as getting into fights resulting in serious injury. Native American, black and low-income teens were more likely than white teens to believe that they were likely to die young.
Link to Article

Spark Extra! Read the abstract of the study http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/124/1/e81

State and Tribal News

Michigan :  Why do so many Michigan youths ponder suicide?, The [Detroit] Free Press, Jun. 23, 2009
Youth in Michigan are more likely than average to attempt suicide. According to Dr. David Rosenberg, chairman of psychiatry at Children’s Hospital in Michigan, the unemployment, homelessness, and sense of hopelessness experienced by many in the region plays a role. Michigan’s Chase Edwards law (named after a local youth who died by suicide) encourages educators to teach suicide prevention in schools, but does not provide for funding.
Link to Article

Spark Extra! The incidence of suicidality among Michigan teens may be several times higher than the reported rate due to reporting issues and difficulties in determining cause of death http://www.freep.com/article/20090623/NEWS06/906230367

Minnesota :  State’s suicide rate rising; tie to economy isn’t clear, The [Minneapolis/St. Paul] Star Tribune, Jun. 24, 2009
Calls to Minnesota’s statewide crisis line (provided by Crisis Connection) are up 20 percent so far this year, an increase that some blame on the poor economy. However, an epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health believes that focusing on the economy is causing people to miss the larger picture: an upward trend in the Minnesota suicide rate that has been taking place since the beginning of the decade. Telephone counselors at the statewide crisis line have begun to make follow-up calls to check back on callers in an effort to help them feel more supported and accountable for seeking help.
Link to Article

Spark Extra! Learn more about Crisis Connection and the crisis lines available in Minnesota http://www.crisis.org/aboutmain.html

International News

Canada:  National suicide rates for First Nations youths, The Regina [Saskatchewan] Leader-Post, Jun. 24, 2009
The suicide rate among First Nations youths in Canada is significantly higher than the rate for other Canadians. Responses by the Canadian government include a $65 million investment to implement the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, and community and individual crisis intervention counseling available through the Health Canada Non-insured Health Benefits program.
Link to Article

Spark Extra! Learn more about the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy http://www.abo-peoples.org/programs/health_SuicidePS.html

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES:

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) FY 2010
Deadline:  TBD
Amount: maximum amount is $3.5 million with a period of performance of no longer than three years
Eligible Applicants: MOMRP encourages submissions by members of the research community with interests in improving evidence-based psychosocial, behavioral, pharmacological, and/or combined treatment of active duty Army soldiers with complicated PTSD who have previously deployed, are currently deployed, or are post-deployed from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Applicants must demonstrate the ability/plan to access and recruit active duty Army participants.
Agency/Department: U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command
call 301-619-6641

Summary: The U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) intends to publish a funding opportunity inviting research applications to conduct randomized controlled trials that focus on validating and/or optimizing treatment for complicated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among active duty Army soldiers. For the purpose and intent of this funding opportunity, “complicated” PTSD is defined as PTSD with co-occurring mental disorder(s) including generalized anxiety disorder, substance-related disorders, and mood disorders, as well as other co-occurring problems like bereavement, sleep disturbance, chronic pain, suicidal behavior, or multiple traumas (e.g., military sexual trauma and combat-related trauma).
For detailed information go to:
MOMRPHelpDesk@gdit.com

Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative - Youth
Deadline:   Jul. 31, 2009
Amount: not specified
Eligible Applicants: not specified
Agency/Department: Indian Health Service (IHS)

Summary: Indian Health Service (IHS) announces competitive grant applications for the Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) for American Indian and Alaska Native Youth (MSPI-Y). The purpose of the MSPI-Y is to expand community-level access to effective methamphetamine and suicide prevention programs through Tribal, youth residential, transitional/discharge, and aftercare services. Resources will enhance existing transitional/discharge and aftercare programs with a specific focus on methamphetamine and suicide prevention.
For detailed information go to:
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=nwQHKL4hRfmG9ch811DrPGcs1FqJyPf6kVVJ4NmdnbhTtRmrNxd1!-723925807?oppId=48167&mode=VIEW

Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative – Urban Programs
Deadline:   Jul. 31, 2009
Amount: not specified
Eligible Applicants: not specified
Agency/Department: Indian Health Service (IHS)

Summary: IHS announces competitive grant applications for the Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Urban Program communities. The purpose of the MSPI-U is to expand community-level access to effective urban AI/AN methamphetamine and/or suicide prevention and treatment programs. Resources will enhance evidence-based or practice-based methamphetamine and/or suicide prevention or treatment programs and/or community mobilization programs.
For detailed information go to:
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=nwQHKL4hRfmG9ch811DrPGcs1FqJyPf6kVVJ4NmdnbhTtRmrNxd1!-723925807?oppId=48168&mode=VIEW

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About the Weekly Spark

The Weekly Spark contains announcements and information about suicide, suicide prevention and mental health issues. We offer brief summaries of national, state and international news; analyses of relevant research findings; descriptions of funding opportunities, and links to additional resources. The Weekly Spark is written and edited by SPRC staff. Every effort is made to offer relevant and timely information with links to the original content as available.

We welcome your suggestions at info@sprc.org. In general, the Weekly Spark does not include editorials, opinion pieces or information on local events. Events may be listed in the SPRC Calendar http://www.sprc.org/featured_resources/trainingandevents/calendar/index.asp

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