Community Health Network Foundation has received a grant to accelerate an early intervention and suicide prevention program that will train healthcare and youth-serving organizations to identify and refer at-risk youth.
The foundation received the $3,679,744 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for its Zero Suicides for Indiana Youth initiative.
Over the next five years, the SAMHSA grant will bring crisis, telepsychiatry and intensive care coordination services to more than 600 primary care physicians, 11 emergency departments and 13 hospitals located throughout the state.
These locations are a mix of Community facilities and other healthcare providers where Community provides behavioral health services. They will annually reach more than 5,000 at-risk Indiana children and young adults who will receive evidence-based assessments and treatments.
Suzanne Clifford, executive vice president of behavioral health at Community, said that suicide is a leading cause of death for Indiana’s children and young adults, and that a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2011 revealed that the percentage of Indiana students attempting suicide was the second highest among 43 states surveyed.
“These statistics are alarming and they continue to climb,” Clifford said. “Now is the time to provide the training and resources needed to save the lives of our state’s children. Zero suicides is a bold goal, but when it comes to our youth, no other goal is acceptable. With this funding, we will be able to radically expand our ability to provide early intervention, prevention and treatment that will save thousands of lives.”
Community Health Network Foundation, US, SAMHSA
