Corewell Health East’s (CHE) Project S.A.F.E.-T. (Suicide Awareness for Everyone and Treatment) is designed reduce ideation, attempts, and deaths due to suicide in individuals aged 25 and older in Michigan’s Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties by raising awareness, providing job-related training in suicide prevention, and by standardizing the assessment tools in screening for suicide risk. Project SAFE-T will focus on particularly high-risk populations, including individuals who are LGBTQI+, of Arab or Middle Eastern descent, African American, American Indian, unemployed, or those living in poverty within its 596 locations. Through Project SAFE-T, CHE will promote a system-wide cultural shift around issues of behavioral health and suicide, and bridge cultural gaps to address three core issues: 1) Lack of system-wide behavioral health approach to mental health and suicide; 2) Lack of personnel and culturally responsive training and development to deal with special populations and suicide risk; 3). Lack of cohesive data collection and analysis to inform communication & strategic decision making. Project SAFE-T is an evidence-based, trauma-informed, recovery-focused, and equitable and accessible. Through Project SAFE-T, CHE will achieve the following objectives:
1) To decrease the number of suicide deaths of individuals age 25 and older served in the CHE system by 10% over the baseline by the end of year one, and by an additional 2% over the previous year each subsequent year by the end of year five.
2) To reduce the number of non-fatal suicide attempts by individuals 25 and older served in the CHE system by 10% over the baseline by the end of year one, and by an additional 2% over the previous year each subsequent year by the end of year five.
3) To hire all key personnel to implement the creation and development of the CHE Behavioral Health Department by the end of first year.
4) To support the sustainability of the Zero Suicide model and other mental health care activities within the 596 CHE system location general operating budgets by the end of year five.
5) To train 165 healthcare professionals within the CHE system in the Zero Suicide model and other mental health support initiatives by the end of year two.
6) To screen at least 3,800 individuals age 25 and older for suicide risk and mental health needs each year for five years as a measurable result of the Zero Suicide initiative.
7) To deliver evidence-based mental health services to at least 3,800 individuals age 25 and older each year for five years as a measurable result of the Zero Suicide initiative.
8) To refer at least 300 individuals in identified, high-risk sub-populations of Arab/Middle Eastern, African American/Black, American Indian, LGBTQI+, poverty, and unemployed for mental health and related services as a measurable result of the Zero Suicide initiative to CHE’s “Bridge the Gap” Program and CMH partners.
9) To decrease time from admission to disposition by 10% in the first year and 2% in subsequent years for 100% of individuals who screen positive for suicide risk.
10) To ensure the composition of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Zero Suicide Implementation Team, including at least two individuals who have attempted suicide or family members who have lost a loved one to suicide.
11) To complete annual evaluations as a part of an ongoing project improvement plan and for CHE leadership to communicate their findings and recommendations each year for five years.