Suicide prevention is a topic that’s very close to Patricia Hayward-Paige’s heart. The Natchaug pharmacy technician lost a close friend to suicide nearly 20 years ago.

“She made an attempt and was unsuccessful,” says Hayward-Paige. “I was able to get her to a hospital and get her some help. She moved back to California, tried again and succeeded because no one there knew she was having a problem.”

Hayward-Paige’s experience has made her determined to help those who might be thinking about suicide.  She and dozens of other clinical and non-clinical staff from the Behavioral Health Network are helping to implement Zero Suicide to establish more focused assessment and timely follow-up care for patients who are at risk of suicide.

In 2015, the Institute of Living was one of the first 20 organizations worldwide to be accepted into and trained by The Zero Suicide Academy, a two-day training for senior leaders of health and behavioral health organizations seeking to reduce suicide among patients in their care. Since then, Natchaug, Rushford, Backus Hospital, and the Hospital of Central Connecticut have all joined the IOL in implementing Zero Suicide as individual entities and eventually as a system.

Under the Zero Suicide initiative, patients are assessed using the highly regarded Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. It uses a series of simple plain language questions asking patients, for example, whether and when they have thought about suicide, what actions they have taken to prepare for suicide and whether and when their attempted suicide was either interrupted by another person or stopped of their own volition.

Zero Suicide also focuses on training clinical and non-clinical staff, evidenced-based treatments focusing explicitly on suicide risk, establishing policies to ensure safe handoffs between caregivers, and effective engagement of patients at risk including a follow-up phone call within 24 hours after discharge.

“It’s a high-risk period,” says Dr. Deborah Weidner, East Region Behavioral Health Network Medical Director and BHN Vice President of Patient Safety and Quality. “Just reaching out and making that call dramatically reduces the risk of suicide.”

At Rushford, Medical Director Dr. J. Craig Allen says the hospital’s highest-risk patients are those discharged from their detox program.  He says these are the patients who get next day follow-up phone calls.

“The population that suffers from substance abuse disorders is at an extremely high risk of suicide because of the nature of the substances,” he says, “which can increase the rates of depression, decrease inhibitions and increase impulsivity. And the one variable that’s most highly correlated with suicide is alcohol.”

Dr. Weidner says staff engagement in the Zero Suicide initiative is a key to its success and that many staff members, like Hayward-Paige, have responded.

“For me, if I can help one person by volunteering to be part of this group then it’s worth it,” says Hayward-Paige.

If you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, including suicidal ideation, the first step to get help is by calling 9-1-1, or visiting your local hospital emergency department.

Other resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255, and the Crisis Text Line (text the word “HELP” to 741741), as well as an anonymous depression screening available here, and the numerous short-term and long-term recovery options available across Connecticut from the Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network.