Iowa Department of Public Health

The Iowa Department of Public Health will reduce suicides, suicidal behavior and suicide risk among Iowa estimated 552,000 youth and young adults aged 10 to 24 years. This will be accomplished by: (1) implementing evidence-based screening/assessment for suicide risk at all IDPH substance abuse treatment programs and all public middle and high schools; (2) increasing referrals to mental health and co-occurring services; and, (3) reaching youth using social media. Iowa Youth and Young Adult Suicide Prevention Program (Y-YASP program) is grounded in recovery principles and believes that all youth can heal. It will build on the foundation of Iowa prior efforts to implement statewide suicide prevention and early intervention strategies. The YYASP Program will collaborate with numerous public and private partners including the SAMHSA funded SAT-ED Adolescent Grant (Families in FOCUS) and Access to Recovery programs, the Iowa Co-occurring Recovery Network, the Department of Education, and the current Garrett Lee Smith grantee at the University of Iowa. Project goals: (1) Insure suicide prevention best practices are integrated into Iowa youth and young adult serving programs; (2) Providers screen/assess all youth and young adults who seek substance abuse treatment for suicide risk; (3) At-Risk for Middle and High School Educators gatekeeper program is implemented in all middle/junior high and high schools; (4) Trauma informed care and other evidence-based practice trainings for providers who work with those at risk of suicide and with co-occurring disorders is expanded; and (5) More youth and young adults access suicide prevention services as a result a media campaign emphasizing social media.The screening and assessment strategies to be used are the Patient Healthcare Questionnaire-9 Modified for Teens (PHQ-9 Modified) and Kognito At-Risk evidence based gatekeeper trainings. The PHQ-9 Modified will be implemented in all IDPH substance abuse treatment provider agencies statewide. Providers will be extensively trained and given ongoing technical assistance. An estimated 14,000 youth and young adults aged 10 to 24 who seek treatment at IDPH a statewide substance abuse treatment provider agencies will be screened/assessed and referred appropriately each project year for a total of 42,000 over the projects lifetime. The At-Risk for Middle and High School Educators evidence-based training will be implemented in all Iowa public middle/junior high and high schools. Clinicians, educators and other staff will be trained to make referrals to treatment and recovery services. An estimated 252,700 students will be served years 2-3 and 288,200 unduplicated students over the Y-YASP Program lifetime.The Iowa Department of Public Health will contract with the University of Iowa to conduct evaluation activities and assist with national Cross-Site evaluation requirements.