Arizona Department of Health Services

The purpose of Arizona’s Suicide Prevention Project is to reduce the rate of completed suicide among Arizona youth, ages 15-24. The project involves developing the capacity of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) organizations to incorporate evidence based strategies and best practices into their programs. Simultaneously, the project will provide training in gatekeeping and climate improvement for education, behavioral health and juvenile corrections.

The Arizona Suicide Prevention Project is a partnership among three organizations: the Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services (ADHS/DBHS), Arizona State University (ASU), and the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition (AzSPC) and involves implementation of key components of Arizona’s strategic plan for suicide prevention.

Universal components of the project involve establishment of a gatekeeper training network, provision of gatekeeper training, and ongoing training for educators, behavioral health providers, and juvenile corrections professional in suicide prevention and in how to develop a safe and supportive climate for LGBTQ youth. Mini grants will be extended to organizations that serve LGBTQ youths for selected interventions, including gatekeeper training, social marketing, parent education, youth leadership training, and other approaches to suicide prevention.

An indicated component of the project involves pilot testing an emergency room intervention with a hospital in Maricopa County. In addition, the project will work to develop referral networks to increase access to needed health services for at risk youth, as well as to expand availability of support services for survivors of suicide.