Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
Covid-19 Suicide Prevention Newport County, RI - Abstract: The Newport County (RI) System of Care (NCSOC) COVID-19 Emergency Suicide Prevention Program will be led by Newport County Community Mental Health Center (NCCMHC), in collaboration with Newport Hospital, East Bay Community Action Program, CODAC Behavioral Health, and the Women’s Resource Center. These collaborators currently work together in a local System of Care that utilizes a No Wrong Door approach for individuals and families with complex needs. The proposed program seeks to implement a Zero Suicide program that will be embedded within the NCSOC. The population of focus for this grant includes all adults aged 25 and older who are at risk for suicide in Newport County, RI, which has a population of 83,204. The racial makeup of the county is 92% White, 5.5% Black, 1.2% Native American/Alaska Native, and 2.5% Asian. 5.6% is Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median household income is $75,463. 9.0% of the population is below the poverty line. The mental health effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are profound and suicide has become a major concern as the pandemic spreads and has longer-term effects on the general population, the economy, and vulnerable groups. Specific sub-populations at increased risk include frontline healthcare workers, first responders, those who develop the illness, those with mental health issues, those who become unemployed, and victims of domestic violence. The program will provide many entry points into care for patients at imminent risk for suicide. Staff at the collaborating agencies will receive evidence-based training and practices to enhance their skill sets and change the culture to empower them to better address the behavioral health needs of the county’s population. Under the proposed program, all individuals who seek care at one of the partner sites will be screened for mental health and suicide issues using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSR). Anyone identified at risk for suicide will receive immediate treatment or referral, a Suicide Care management Plan, and follow-up care. Specialized interventions to be utilized will include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Prevention (CBT-SP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). Project goals include: 1) Reduce the incidence of deaths by suicide in Newport County. 2) Create a leadership-driven, safety oriented culture committed to reducing suicide among people under care. 3) Train and develop a competent, confident, and caring workforce. 4) Identify and assess suicide risk among people receiving care. 5) Engage individuals in ensuring that they have a pathway to care that is timely, adequately meets their needs, and includes a collaborative safety plan and means restriction. 6) Treat those assessed to be at risk of suicide with evidence-based treatments, and 7) Provide patients to continuous contact and support, especially after acute care. The project will seek to achieve a 40% reduction in suicides in the county and will serve 10,000 individuals by the end of the 16-month project.
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).