1. 1. Health Care Policy Catherine Bauer Jacksonville University Organization, Delivery, and Policy in Healthcare NUR512 Virginia Suicide Prevention Program
2. 2. Objectives Describe the extent and severity of problem Review Program outcomes, results and sustainability List accreditation requirements Review resources needed
3. 3. Severity of Problem In Virginia, suicide ranked 11th for cause of death among residents and was the third leading cause among 10- to 24-year-olds. 1,047 Virginians died by suicide in 2013 ("State Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Plans," 2015)
4. 4. Suicide Rates, By State ("State Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Plans," 2015)
5. 5. Suicide Rates, By Region ("State Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Plans," 2015)
6. 6. Severity of Problem in Virginia 4,401 suicide attempts; 30% (n=1,294) occurred among youth and adolescents aged 10-24. Females were more likely to attempt suicide than males. Whites were more likely to attempt suicide than any other race. 82% of suicide attempts involved poisonings. These suicide attempts resulted in hospitalization charges of more than $43 million, and a median charge of $6,192 per episode of care. ("State Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Plans," 2015)
7. 7. Program Overview The Suicide Prevention Program coordinates statewide training for school personnel, human service providers, faith communities and others on suicide prevention and intervention, including identification of persons at- risk of suicide, screening, counseling and referral. The suicide prevention programs are currently funded through the Substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, pursuant to the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant ("Strategizing for suicide prevention," 2015)
8. 8. Factors influence suicide rates History of mental disorder, particularly depression History of alcohol and substance abuse Family history of suicide and child maltreatment Feelings of hopelessness Impulsive or aggressive tendencies Barriers to accessing mental health treatment Physical illness Easy access to lethal methods Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to suicidal thoughts or to mental health and substance abuse disorders Cultural and religious beliefs -- for instance, the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma Local epidemics of suicide Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people Previous suicide attempt(s) ("Strategizing for suicide prevention," 2015)
9. 9. Prevention Tips Begins by knowing the signs that may indicate depression: Low self-esteem Anger management problems Irritability Getting into trouble with the law Becoming pregnant early in life Abusing alcohol or drugs Threatening suicide or homicide Significant change in appetite or weight Feelings of worthlessness or excess guilt Fatigue or loss of energy ("Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention," 2015)
10. 10. ("Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention," 2015)
11. 11. What You Can Do.... If you think a person is at risk for depression or suicide, the next step is to actively intervene and refer the person to proper help. Take immediate and sufficient steps to ensure safety including eliminating access to firearms. Explore individual/family/group therapy Enlist family and community support. Do not hesitate to involve mental health professionals trained to recognize and treat depression and related disorders.
12. 12. Sustainability of Program National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) NSSP emphasizes the role all Americans can play in protecting their friends, family members, and colleagues from suicide. It provides guidance for schools, businesses, health systems, clinicians, and others based on nearly a decade of research and advancements in the field. National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention This public-private partnership advances the NSSP (see above) in pursuit of their vision of a nation free from suicide. The Alliance champions suicide prevention as a national priority, catalyzing efforts to implement high priority objectives of the NSSP, and cultivating the resources needed to sustain progress. AFSP supports the Action Alliance and AFSP leadership sits on the Alliances Research Prioritization Taskforce. ("State Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Plans," 2015)
13. 13. Resources Needed Scientific research grants Developing a growing network of researchers dedicated to reducing the loss of life from suicide Significant contributions as a member of the Research Priorities Task Force of the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and by consulting with organizations such as the National Institutes of Health to support implementation of these priorities.
14. 14. Accredidation The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) collects detailed information on violent deaths and suicides from 17 states; including Virginia. This information can provide valuable insight into the circumstances surrounding youth suicide. For example, a recent study conducted by Harvard University using NVDRS data found that 35% of youth suicide deaths occurred the same day the youth experienced a crisis. ("State Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Plans," 2015)
15. 15. Outcomes Effective clinical care for mental, physical and substance use disorders Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking Strong connections to family and community support Support through ongoing medical and mental health care relationships Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution and nonviolent handling of disputes
16. 16. Unintended Effects While we understand that suicide is personal and complicated, we also know that thoughtful public policies can reduce the number of suicides. The U.S. Senate has passed the Harkin/Alexander amendment, the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act (S. 689), by a vote of 95-2. This amendment is the first significant mental health legislation passed by the Senate since 2008 This act reauthorizes important federal youth suicide prevention programs for states and college campuses under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act ("Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention," 2015)
17. 17. Program Revision The Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act will help advance suicide prevention through: Mental health awareness training for school and emergency services personnel so they can recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, become familiar with resources in the community for individuals with mental illnesses, and learn how to safely de-escalate crisis situations involving individuals at risk for self-harm Expansion of the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to all 50 states, which would ensure the availability of complete, accurate, and timely information used to design effective suicide prevention strategies. ("Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention," 2015)
18. 18. Program Revision In 2014-2015, Suicide Prevention Advocates have inspired positive state policy changes by Supporting legislation that now mandates regular suicide prevention training for school personnel. Supporting pioneering legislation in Washington state and Kentucky that now mandates regular suicide prevention training for certain health and mental health professionals. ("Public Health Approach to Suicide Prevention," 2015)
19. 19. References State Suicide Prevention Initiatives and Plans. (2015). Retrieved from www.afsp.org/advocacy- public-policy/state-policy/state-suicide- prevention-initiatives-plans Suicide: Prevention Strategies. (2015). Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/violencePrevention/suicide/preven tion.html Suicide Prevention in the 21st Century: A Framework. (2015). Retrieved from www.sprc.org/basic/about-suicide-prevention