Zero Suicide
Prioritizing Safer Suicide Care
In 2021, MHA began a process to improve suicide care within our agency. We joined with the Zero Suicide initiative in believing that “suicide deaths for individuals receiving care from behavioral and health systems are preventable.” For agencies like MHA dedicated to improving patient safety, Zero Suicide presents an aspirational challenge and practical framework for system-wide transformation toward safer suicide care.
01 – MHA Zero Suicide Steering Committee.
Our first step was to form a steering committee to help analyze our needs and make suggestions for moving the agency toward better suicide prevention care. Our steering committee is made up of employees from across our agency but we are not just professionals, we are also people with lived suicide experience. Our 13 member steering committee has disclosed the following lived experience related to suicide.
I have had suicidal thoughts myself – 6
I have attempted suicide – 5
A family member has attempted suicide – 4
I have lost a family memebr to suicide – 1
A friend has attempted suicide – 2
I have lost a friend to suicide – 4
02 – Policy Revamp
Our work began by revamping our current suicide prevention protocol for both consumers and employees.
For our consumers, we developed our Zero Suicide Program that allows some consumers screened at high risk for suicide to be receive treatment in the community instead of being hospitalized. Consumers are able to maintain employment, family connections, and social supports while addressing the issues causing their suicidality.
We also renewed our commitment to our employee’s mental health. We must be aware of the impact vicarious trauma has on our ability to take care of others. This led to increasing trainings on self-care and suicide prevention and polcies being written directly related to protecting the mental wellness of our staff.
04 – Community Training
But training our staff is not enough. We are committed to bringing suicide prevention training to anyone interested. People at risk for suicide reach out to family members, friends, pastors, teachers, co-workers, doctors… anyone in their lives that they might listen.
MHA is proud to currently have 6 QPR trainers on staff. We are happy to bring this suicide prevention gatekeeper training to businesses, schools, or other groups across the area. We also offer QPR training several times a year for individuals. Click the links below for more information.
05 – Statewide Suicide Coalition
Finally, we are also taking an active role in the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition looking at preventing suicides across our state.