Principle Investigator:  Melissa Thomas

Program Director: Lisa Shumaker

Program Coordinator: Sawsan Madanat

Duration: Three years, ending September 29, 2008 - $400,000/year

Summary: The purpose of the youth suicide grant is to reduce the incidence of suicide among Arizona youth ages 12-24.  The grant is a partnership between five organizations. These are the Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services, Gila River Regional Behavioral Health Authority, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, Central Arizona College, and the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition.  The project has three primary implementation sites: Coolidge, Sacaton, and Tucson.

The project targets Pima and Pinal counties, two areas of the state with high rates of attempted and completed suicides.  The project includes the full continuum of prevention, early intervention, and postvention.  Prevention strategies include formal gatekeeper training for educators, first responders, behavioral health professionals, and youth leaders.  Early intervention services involve assisting the schools and health clinics in the targeted counties with establishing screening for depression and suicide and making appropriate referrals to treatment.  Postvention strategies include providing support for survivors of suicide in the form of Critical Stress Management.