Kentucky Strategic Allies Fostering Empowerment of Today's Youth (KY SAFETY) - Kentucky, like most of the United States, has experienced significant impacts on the behavioral health of its residents over the last two years from the combined traumas of covid-19 and racial injustice. Even before the covid-19 pandemic reached the u. S. In early 2020, behavioral health needs were rising. Deaths from suicide and overdoses were on the upswing, especially among youth. In 2020, 104 Kentuckians under the age of 25 died as a result of suicide, nearly 17% more than reported suicide deaths among the same population in 2019 (89) 1. Nationally, the CDC reports 37% of high school students reported poor mental health during the pandemic, and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless in the last year. Kentucky youth have worse mental health with 54% of students reported their mental health was not good during the pandemic, and 69% reported they felt sad or hopeless in the last year2. Louisville, Kentuckys largest city, was the home of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police officers in the spring of 2020, increasing the trauma resulting from the racial inequity that exists for people of color. The Kentucky strategic allies fostering empowerment of todays youth (KY SAFETY) project will build capacity among youth-serving agencies (YSAS) (to include schools, foster care agencies, child welfare agencies, juvenile justice, behavioral health providers, and other community-based providers throughout this narrative) across Kentucky to address factors related to suicide-related risk. This grant will build upon Kentuckys 20+ year history of serving youth ages 10-24 at risk of death by suicide, their families and the agencies that serve them; hereafter referred to as the population of focus. Initial implementation will occur in the geographic catchment area of Clinton, Hart, Hickman, and Lyon counties, which have youth suicide attempt rates double the state average. Expansion efforts in the state will be identified in years 2, 3, and 4 based on data and through a competitive funding opportunity. To address suicide risk in the population of focus, Kentucky must improve its infrastructure by addressing 1) workforce recruitment, training, and retention; and 2) equitable service access. According to HRSA, mental health professional shortage areas exist in the identified geographic catchments for this project. Community mental health centers (CMHCs) which serve as Kentuckys behavioral health safety net reported in January 2022 that they are having issues hiring enough staff to meet behavioral health needs in their regions. Turnover is a significant, ongoing issue, with many staff leaving within three years. Providing equitable access to behavioral health care is key to addressing infrastructure need #2. Equitable implementation includes efforts that build relationships, dismantle power structures, invest in equity, and make cultural adaptations appropriate for local culture. Tenth graders who are multi-racial have the highest rate of serious psychological distress (32.2%) in the state, followed by those who identify as other (27.5%) and Hispanic (23.2%)2. Suicide attempts are highest for 8th graders who identify as multi-racial (13.7%), and other (12.8%), and 12th graders who identify as multi-racial (12.8%)2. The risk is significantly elevated among those who are gender- or sexually-questioning/diverse with 55% of 10th graders who report they are questioning their gender and 36% of those who report their sexual orientation as gay, lesbian, other, indicating they had considered suicide in the last year. Anticipated total number of unduplicated people served will be 5,600.
