HJAR Nov/Dec 2019

health problem that has enduring harmful effects on individuals, families, and com- munities. In 2017, according to theAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Arkansas ranked ninth in the nation for the number of suicides per 100,000 people, with 631 deaths by suicide that year. An Arkansan takes his or her life every 16 hours. Because each person is unique, there is no one solution for effective suicide prevention. While the causes of suicide vary, suicide pre- vention strategies share two goals: to reduce factors that increase risk, and to increase factors that promote resilience and coping skills. Prevention requires a comprehensive approach that occurs at all levels of society— from the individual, family, and community levels, to the broader social environment. The Zero Suicide Institute, has identified seven essential elements of suicide care for MENTAL HEALTH health and behavioral health care systems to adopt. 1. Lead system-wide culture change com- mitted to reducing suicides 2. Train a competent, confident, and car- ing workforce 3. Identify individuals with suicide risk via comprehensive screening and assessment 4. Engage all individuals at-risk for sui- cide using a suicide care management plan 5. Treat suicidal thoughts and behaviors using evidence-based treatments 6. Transition individuals through care with warm hand-offs and supportive contacts 7. Improve policies and proce- dures through continuous quality improvement Like other continuous improvement in- itiatives, Zero Suicide requires a long-term commitment. To learn more, explore Zero Suicide at zerosuicide.sprc.org . Looking back, I often wonder about Dave. We saved him from that moment in time, and I hope he learned from his choice and is en- joying a rich life today by engaging in his community, exploring his faith, developing life skills, and seeking help from his health- care provider when necessary. n Bruce Trimble, MA, APR, is the director of business development forThe BridgeWayHospital,a psychiatric facility for children, adolescents, and adults in North Little Rock,Arkansas.An avidmental health advocate, Trimble was appointed by the Governor of Arkansas to the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Council in 2015, and served as co-chair from2015 to 2017. In 2018,he was instrumental in establishing the call center for the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Hotline..