The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Texas Health Resources a grant worth up to $1.5 million for the expansion and strengthening of suicide prevention efforts in hospitals and physicians group practices across north Texas, according to a Nov. 11 press release.
At a glance
As one of only 32 applicants awarded grants from a pool of 235, Texas Health proposed a broader implementation of the nationally-recognized Zero Suicide tactics and screenings.
The evidence-based framework is part of Texas Health’s goals to improve access to mental health services and prevent suicide by integrating behavioral health services into everyday patient care, according to the release.
“Suicide prevention is a critical component of caring for the whole person,” Scott Domingue, chief operating and nursing officer of Texas Health Behavioral Health, said in the press release. “This grant enables us to strengthen the systems, training and support structures that help connect people with the care they need when they are at their most vulnerable.”
By the numbers
Only one-third of the approximately 83% of people who die by suicide within a year of seeing a healthcare provider received mental health services.
Since 2019, Texas Health hospitals have already screened for suicide risk in approximately five million encounters, and Ken Jones, behavioral health clinical officer for Texas Health, said in the press release that the Zero Suicide framework will be an even more comprehensive approach.
“Our early work laid a strong foundation with expanded suicide risk screening across the organization, but it also made clear that more could be done to strengthen prevention efforts and ensure every person at risk receives the support they need,” Jones said in the press release.
The details
The first phase of the five-year implementation plan will start in counties with a statistically higher level of suicide risk.
The second phase will include Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, and the third phase will include Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton.
The grant will also be used to evaluate current practices, provide suicide prevention training for clinical and non-clinical staff, and strengthen treatments and follow-up care for patients at risk of suicide.
