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​​ISSUE BRIEF:  Suicide Prevention [1]

Integrated suicide prevention practices are recommended within education, healthcare,
justice and other local systems. Key Components and Promising Practices are summarized. 

Key Components

Access to health, mental health & SUD Care:

• Insurance Coverage
• Integrated Care
• Mental health workforce adequate to provide access for all
• Primary Care Doctors able to screen for suicide risk, depression and SUD, and treat within integrated care systems

 
Connection to community and family support through      culturally-competent training, programs and partnerships
 

 Lethal Means Restriction:

• Railways & Bridges—Deterrent Systems
• Prescription Policies for certain      medications
• Carbon Monoxide Emission Controls on autos
• Weapons
  • Firearm safety mechanisms such as gun locks and safes.
  • Suicide Awareness Training of firearm professionals

 
Responsible Media Reporting to:

• Prevent suicide clusters
• Share prevention and recovery information

Vulnerable Groups
​According to statewide statistics.

People in Middle/Older Age, Veterans & LGBTQ

• Age 35-64: High rates in 2017   
• Veterans appr. 14% of  U.S. Suicides 2016
• Age 65+ Historically High Rate   
• LGBTQ Adults & Youth

People Admitted to and Discharged from Hospital Settings

• Emergency Departments—Individuals seen for self-injury are 30 times more likely to die by suicide than other patients.
• Psychiatric Hospitalization—Suicide risk increases during the first week of admission to a psychiatric hospital and during the first week after discharge.

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PROMISING PRACTICES

Tools

Programs

Crisis Intervention Tools:

• Universal Screening for Suicide Risk with secondary assessment by a physician
• Resources at discharge to include:
  • Safety Plan
  • Follow-up Calls
  • Follow-up Care

Risk Assessment and Management Tools:

• Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9)
• Crisis Response Planning
• Safety Plan

Treatment Tools:

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention
• Collaborative Assessment and 
• Management of Suicidality.
• Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP)
• Pharmacological Interventions

Postvention Tools directed toward suicide loss survivors, including family, friends, professionals and community at large to address:

• Grief and distress (e.g. face-to-face 
• bereavement support groups)
• Negative effects of exposure to suicide
• Prevent additional suicide by people at risk

​

CALM: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means--On-line Training

Gatekeeper Training for teachers, families, coaches, military, supervisors, clergy, emergency responders, urgent care and others to identify at-risk individuals and respond effectively, including connection to services

• Adults
  • Question, Persuade, Refer
  • Living Works
• Children & Youth
  • More Than Sad
  • Signs Matter Early Detection
  • LGBT Youth

Overdose Response: Harm reduction interventions such as Medication Assisted Treatment for opioid overdose.

​Resilience & Skills Training to promote critical thinking, conflict resolution, stress management and coping. (e.g. Good Behavior Game, American Indian Life Skills Development curriculum)

​[1]     Issue brief is based on: “Striving for Zero - CA’s Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention 2020-2025” by the Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission.  www.calbhbc.org/suicide