APNA Board Endorses Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention
APNA’s mission includes improving mental health care for culturally diverse individuals, families, groups, and communities, and shaping health policy for the delivery of mental health services. With this in mind, the APNA Board of Directors, at the recommendation of the APNA Child & Adolescent Council, has endorsed a new resource that supports child & adolescent health providers and other health professionals in identifying strategies and key partnerships to support youth at risk for suicide.
The Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention was created by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), in collaboration with experts from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), as a call to action to support providers in advancing equitable youth suicide prevention strategies in all settings where youth live, learn, work, and spend time.
Only have time for a quick look? Here are 2 highlights:
1. Strategies for Clinical Settings for Youth Suicide Prevention
In this section of the Blueprint, you’ll come to understand how child & adolescent health clinicians have unique opportunities to identify youth at risk for suicide and provide appropriate care and support. Explore clinical pathways for addressing suicide prevention in child & adolescent practice and how having a detailed process in place makes all the difference. The outline in this section provides considerations for care delivery, common barriers, and strategies for integrating suicide prevention protocols into your health system.
2. How to Talk about Suicide Risk with Patients and their Families
This section outlines child & adolescent health clinicians’ ability to ask subsequent questions that build an understanding of what suicidal thoughts are like for each individual person. These types of questions can help build an understanding of the patient and family’s experiences, which may make it easier to communicate and work together on a safety plan and any necessary follow-up care. This information is applicable to all practices and forms of care, not just suicide prevention.
“The most important implication of the Blueprint is getting these resources into the hands of those who work with youth who may be at risk. The clinical pathways can inform all health care settings about best practices.”
-Jamie Zelazny, PhD, MPH, RN
Child & Adolescent Council Chair
>>> Learn even more about providing care in suicide prevention with sessions during APNA 37th Annual Conference, including session 3042 “Risk Factors for Suicidal Behaviors in Black Youth at High Risk for Mood Disorders: Implications for Clinical Care.”
Coming early next year! The updated APNA Suicide Prevention Training will include a module on the specifics related to youth suicide prevention.
