Research

SAMHSA Zero Suicide Grant: The “New Yorkers Advancing Suicide Safer Care” initiative adapts the Zero Suicide AIM model to train clinicians in NYS to provide best practice suicide prevention approaches. AIM stands for Assess, Intervene, and Monitor, a three-part framework where “Assess” refers to the use of systematic screening and comprehensive risk assessment to identify at-risk patients. “Intervene” consists of conducting suicide-specific brief and psychosocial interventions. “Monitor” provides strategies for ongoing monitoring and increased contact during known high risk periods. This model developed in outpatient behavioral health expands to implement Suicide Care Management Plans (SCMP) across CPEP, inpatient, outpatient, and substance use disorder treatment settings.

SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith Grant: The SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith grant takes the AIM model utilized in the NYASSC Project, and adapts the model for the needs of youth and young adults, ages 10-24, served across CPEP, inpatient, outpatient, substance use disorder treatment, and school-based settings in New York State (NYS) to conduct a clinical systems and community demonstration project in Onondaga County for a statewide dissemination.

EPINET: The Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) program aims to deliver high-quality and continuously-improving coordinated specialty care (CSC) to individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) to reduce schizophrenia’s enormous illness burden. We will conduct qualitative interviews with OnTrackNY clients and clinicians to develop a FEP-specific suicide prevention protocol and pilot this model in OnTrackNY clinics throughout NYS.

NIMH-funded grant and PSYCKES continuous quality improvement (CQI) project to study the implementation and effectiveness of the “Zero Suicide” model in outpatient behavioral clinics: This project will be the largest implementation and evaluation of the “Zero Suicide” model ever conducted, serving ~175 clinics and nearly 85,000 individual clients across New York State. SP-TIE will develop metrics and trainings in collaboration with a PSYCKES CQI protocol for suicide prevention. Leadership will be engaged, clinicians will be trained in evidence-based screening, risk assessment, brief interventions, and continuity of care monitoring for clients at elevated risk for suicide, and a “Suicide-Safer Care Pathway” will be developed to provide enhanced outpatient care to those most at risk. A PSYCKES CQI protocol will track implementation , and the effect of these procedures will be examined on the rate of suicide attempts, deaths, and suicide-related inpatient hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

Treatment development: Development and pilot testing of novel interventions, including a brief suicide prevention group treatment for inpatients and a peer support program for survivors of suicide attempt.

Evaluation: Evaluation of attitude and knowledge gain, clinical uptake of suicide prevention skills, and continuous quality improvement for our live and archived trainings in: screening; risk assessment; safety planning; and follow-up monitoring.

Implementation Assistance – Learning Collaboratives: OMH and OASAS collaboration to introduce the “Zero Suicide” Model to OMH and OASAS clinics.

SAMHSA Grant: Train and evaluate clinical uptake for emergency departments (ED) and crisis hotline staff in safety planning and follow-up monitoring for suicide prevention.