Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
Name: Empower Life on Long Island--Emergency Suicide Prevention Initiative. In a two-county area of NY with more Covid cases than 45 U.S. states and 185 nations, this project will expand access to suicide prevention resources in Nassau and Suffolk Counties to serve two adult populations. These are: (1) those who—even before Covid-19—were highly vulnerable and at high risk for suicide because they were/are disproportionately low-income, working poor, under-employed, disabled, trauma survivors, facing housing instability and/or living in isolation from services due to stigma, mobility gaps, or other hurdles; and (2) adults not previously identified as vulnerable, but whose spiking suicide risk and onset of mental health / behavioral health distress are triggered by this COVID-19 crisis. Compared to the region’s general population, our target population disproportionately comprises Black and Latinx individuals and persons of lower income, lesser housing stability (including many Veterans), and domestic violence victims. Partnering with The Safe Center LI to assure strong safety-planning and suicide prevention resources, including for victims of domestic violence during this time of crisis, CN Guidance & Counseling Services—a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic with 48 years of experience—will work across gov’t and community partners to prevent suicides by using: (a) mobile resources, (b) telehealth, (c) partnerships with medical centers enabling rapid follow-up with patients in ERs/hospitals/other health settings who have attempted suicide or are in crisis, (d) care transition protocols, including for people coming out of inpatient settings, (e) training of community and clinical providers, (f) screening, assessment, and clinical treatment services, and (g) community recovery supports—together closing gaps in suicide prevention, mental health, and substance use services that otherwise leave people here often waiting weeks and months for needed services. In a coordinated way, this project will deploy at least the following 8 Evidence-Based Practices supporting suicide prevention, well suited for our target population, adults ages 25 and above: (1) Mental Health First Aid; (2) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention; (3) Peer Support; (4) Motivational Interviewing; (5) Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training; (6) The Stanley-Brown Safety Plan; (7) Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (for depression); and (8) the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. This project will support reaching 6,600 adults with suicide screenings over 16 months. The main goal is to assure the community’s capacity to meet exploding demand for suicide prevention during the Covid-19 crisis and its aftermath, by expanding resources and local access to a full range of suicide prevention resources—integrated across the community. The project aims to take both a highly responsive and highly proactive approach, with ongoing follow-up.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
