The New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Project - The New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Project (NJYSPP) targets youth between the ages of 10 and 24 who are at risk for suicide through a comprehensive initiative that trains gatekeepers and clinicians in suicide prevention and intervention, establishes school and community screening to identify at-risk youth, reaches youth directly via a social media campaign, and leverages positive peer messaging to change dangerous norms around codes of silence and stigma around help-seeking for suicide, mental health, and substance abuse. Advancing five of the 10 goals of the NJ State Youth Suicide Prevention Plan, the NJYSPP targets high-risk youth including LGBTQ youth, Latina adolescents, African American male youth, survivors of suicide loss, as well as youth in colleges and universities, the juvenile justice system, and out of home placements. An integrated training approach using evidence-based and best practice programs includes the following components: Connect Prevention/Intervention trains individuals to identify at-risk youth and link youth to services; Connect Postvention will provide an integrated community response in the aftermath of suicide, reduce risk of contagion and promote healing; and Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk trains clinicians in the core competencies necessary to work with suicidal clients. Trained trainers in these curricula will ensure sustainability. To enhance gatekeeper training initiatives, NJ integrates Sources of Strength peer leader training to increase the number of youth receiving suicide prevention and strengths-based messaging, reverse norms of silence, increase help-seeking and connect at-risk youth with trusted adults. The NJYSPP also includes implementation of the Teen Screen program in schools and primary care. The last component is a statewide Social Media Campaign to develop a social media strategy using Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.
