Nevada Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention in Schools Project - Abstract The Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention (NOSP) Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention in Schools Project will enhance and expand suicide prevention efforts for youth in three school districts within Nevada. The overarching goals of this project are multifaced, focusing on enhancing suicide prevention and mental health awareness in schools, building the capacity of clinical services providers to address youth suicidality, and improving the continuity of care and follow-up for at-risk youth. The first goal aims to educate and train school personnel, youth, families, caregivers, school staff, and community members with the tools necessary to recognize and intervene effectively. to recognize and respond to signs of suicide and mental health crises by utilizing evidenced-based programs and integrating mental health education into the school curriculums with a focus on building resilience and coping skills among students. With extensive experience in managing state and federal grants, NOSP will train 1,925 participants in evidenced-based suicide prevention programs including safeTALK, QPR, ASIST, CALM, and Youth Mental Health First Aid. The second goal builds the capacity of clinical service providers to address youth suicidality effectively. This will involve bhworks for screening, assessments, and interventions in schools. This goal further aims to establish prevention and peer support groups and enhance school-based screening efforts as well as virtual suicidality interventions on an annual basis. This goal aims to reduce the emergency department overuse and provide rapid, effective treatment. Our final goal will work to improve the continuity of care and follow-up for at-risk youth. This includes conducting trainings each year on post-hospital discharge plans to ensure continuous care and safety planning. By the final year, the project aims to educate at least 80% of school administrators and staff on the suicide postvention plan to enhance community response following a suicide. Additionally, this goal will focus on developing and distributing a resource toolkit for suicide postvention to support caregivers of youth who have experienced suicidal ideation or attempts, including information on monthly support groups. NOSP will partner with key organizations such as the Nevada Department of Education’s (NDE) Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment (OSRLE), NAMI Western Nevada, the Hope Institute, and local education agencies to ensure broad and effective reach and implementation. The project will utilize the bhworks platform for streamlined processes, comprehensive behavioral health management, and data-driven decision making. The American Institute of Research will be utilized to evaluate the program’s effectiveness using real-time dashboards and comprehensive reporting functionalities. Performance measures will track the number of individuals who are screened for suicidal ideation, who are referred to mental health services, and those who participate in provided trainings. Through these comprehensive and strategic efforts, this project aims to provide critical support and resources to at-risk youth, their families, schools, and the community. By enhancing early identification, intervention, and support for at-risk youth and their families, this project will work to significantly reduce youth suicides in Nevada.
