200907 Youths Identified At-risk for Suicide by Trained Gatekeepers: Findings from the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Michael S. Rodi, PhD , GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Program, Macro International Inc., Atlanta, GA
Jennifer R. Wallach, MPH , Macro International, New York, NY
Brandee Brewer, MPH , GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Program, Macro International Inc., Atlanta, GA
Christine Walrath, PhD , Macro International, New York, NY
Richard McKeon, PhD, MPH , Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
In 2004, Congress passed the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (GLSMA) and subsequently appropriated funding for the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program. Fifty-four states and tribal entities currently funded under the GLSMA are working to develop infrastructure for suicide prevention and to improve the early identification and service access of at-risk youth. Data will be presented from the cross-site evaluation of these programs, and will focus on the proximal outcomes of training gatekeepers to recognize the warning signs of suicide and intervene appropriately.

The paper will include analyses of aggregate data from the Early Identification, Referral and Follow up analysis which gathers data on youth identified at-risk for suicide by trained gatekeepers, as well as the receipt of referrals and linkage to services. Gatekeeper trainees include clinicians, primary care providers, school personnel, child welfare staff, law enforcement officers, as well as general community members, working in a wide variety of settings. This paper will discuss (1) the characteristics of youth identified as being at-risk for suicide (2) the source (type of gatekeeper) and setting of early identification (3) issues and findings related to the relationships between the characteristics of the youths, the settings in which they are identified, the types of referrals they receive, and the services they access.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand community-based gatekeeper training and the gatekeeper activities implemented by GLSMA grantees to collect the data presented 2. Identify and list the characteristics of youth identified as at-risk by trained gatekeepers. 3. Describe the role of the gatekeepers identifying youth at-risk and the setting in which they are making early identifications. 4. State where at-risk youth are referred for follow-up services. 5. Understand issues and findings related to referral type and service receipt, youth characteristics, gatekeeper role, and the settings in which youths are identified.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Project Director of the cross-site evaluation of Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.