IHS Announces Selectees for the 2017 American Indian and Alaska Native Zero Suicide Academy®

by LCDR Sean Bennett, LCSW, USPHS, Public Health Advisor and National Lead for Zero Suicide, Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, Division of Behavioral Health, Indian Health Service

August 18, 2017

The Zero Suicide Academy® is a two-day training for senior leaders of health and behavioral health care organizations that seek to dramatically reduce suicides among patients in their care. Using the Zero Suicide framework, participants learn how to incorporate best and promising practices into their organizations and processes to improve care and safety for individuals at risk. Zero Suicide faculty provide both interactive presentations and small group sessions, and collaborate with participants to develop organization-specific action plans.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Education Development Center

, Inc. will host staff from 10 sites to attend the 2017 American Indian/Alaska Native Zero Suicide Academy****®. The following organizations will make up the 2017 Academy class:

• Thompson Indian Health Service Health Center - Ft. Thompson, SD
• Comprehensive Healthcare Facility - Chinle, AZ
• Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Behavioral Health - Choctaw, MS
• Oneida Nation Behavioral Health Services - Oneida, WI
• Elbowoods Memorial Health - New Town, ND
• United Indian Health Services - Arcata, CA
• Seneca Nation Health System - Salamanca, NY
• Fairbanks Native Association - Fairbanks, AK
• Gila River Health Care - Sacaton, AZ
• Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health Services - Okmulgee, OK

The two and a half day event will be held in Albuquerque, NM September 7-9, and is designed for senior leaders of Indian/Tribal/Urban health and behavioral health care organizations that seek to reduce suicides among patients in their care. Teams from across Indian Country will learn the fundamental aspects of the Zero Suicide model; establish a collaborative learning environment with other teams, and receive consultation from Zero Suicide faculty to develop individualized plans to implement the model.

The Zero Suicide model is a comprehensive approach to suicide care that aims to improve care and outcomes for individuals seen in health care systems who are at risk of suicide. The model involves the following seven interrelated core elements:

• Lead: Leadership commitment to fundamentally change suicide care
• **Train:**Comprehensive and ongoing workforce training and development
• Identify: Universal and standardized screening and risk assessment
• Engage: 100% suicide safety and care management plan, with means restriction
• Treat: Use of effective, evidence-based treatments that directly target suicidality
• Transition: Continuous contact and support, especially after acute care
• Improve: Strategic data collection and ongoing quality improvement

Related Content:

IHS and Boys and Girls Clubs Partner to Expand Services to Native Youth

IHS Announces Three Additional Native Youth Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention Awards

Indian Health Service Plans to Expand Community Health Aide Program

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