On August 6, 2020, Centerstone received a $2 million grant award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to further develop its Zero Suicide initiative and implement it systemwide. The grant will provide $400,000 per year for the next five years. Centerstone will use the funds to enhance and expand suicide prevention and intervention strategies designed to raise awareness of suicide, establish referral processes, and improve care and outcomes for adults age 25 and older.
Work to implement the grant will begin by August 31, 2020. Specifically, Centerstone will screen all individuals receiving care for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, conduct comprehensive risk assessments of individuals identified at risk for suicide, implement effective, evidence-based treatments that specifically treat suicidal ideation and behaviors. Additionally, Centerstone will provide 2,500 clinical staff with training in evidence-based practices and protocols/processes. The training will focus on direct treatment in suicide prevention and evaluating individual outcomes throughout the treatment process. Centerstone will also work with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) community-based outpatient clinics, state department of Veterans affairs, and national SAMHSA and Veterans Administration (VA) suicide prevention resources to engage and intervene with veterans at risk for suicide but not currently receiving VA services.
The grant calls for Centerstone to provide screenings for 262,680 individuals; comprehensive assessment for 47,285 at-risk individuals; and Suicide Prevention Pathway services for 2,840 individuals. It also calls for Centerstone to provide care transition for 2,130 Pathway participants; refer/connect 47,285 individuals to mental health/related services; and conduct follow-up with 2,840 Pathway participants.
Centerstone is a non-profit health system providing mental health and addiction treatment. Services are available nationally through the operation of outpatient clinics, residential programs, the use of telehealth, and an inpatient hospital. Centerstone serves over 170,000 people and families in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The organization launched the Zero Suicide initiative in 2014, initially in Tennessee. It has since been rolled out in other Centerstone states.
This grant to Centerstone is one of 15 that the SAMSHA Center for Mental Health Services awarded for SM-20-015 “Grants to Implement Zero Suicide in Health Systems.” The funding opportunity was posted on January 30, 2020, with applications due by March 30, 2020. The Zero Suicide model is a comprehensive, multi-setting approach to suicide prevention in health systems. The purpose of this program is to implement suicide prevention and intervention programs for individuals who are 25 years of age or older. This program is designed to raise awareness of suicide, establish referral processes, and improve care and outcomes for such individuals who are at risk for suicide. Recipients will implement the Zero Suicide model throughout their health system.
This was reported by Centerstone on August 6, 2020, and by SAMHSA. The grant awards are posted at https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2020/SM-20-015 (accessed August 22, 2020).
Contact information: Becky Stoll, Vice President of Crisis and Disaster Services, Project Director for Zero Suicide, Centerstone of America, 44 Vantage Way, Nashville, Tennessee 37228; 615-460-4020; Email: mediainquiries@centerstone.org; Website: https://centerstone.org.
