HD22 - Annual Report on the Virginia Youth Suicide Prevention Plan


Executive Summary:
Youth suicide presents a serious, preventable health problem affecting the lives of young people across Virginia. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young Virginians aged 10 - 24 (see Figure 1) and is the third leading cause of death in that age group nationally. On average, one Virginia teenager dies each week from suicide. The rate of suicide among Virginia youth aged 10 - 19 has increased 32% since 1975.

Overall, the age-adjusted suicide rate in Virginia is almost 6% higher than the national rate and more than twice the national Healthy People 2010 target for suicide. Medical costs resulting from hospitalizations in Virginia due to self-inflicted injuries total almost $30 million per year. While the number of deaths from suicide has been highest in some of the most highly populated areas of the state (see Figure 2), the rate of suicide when adjusted for size of population has been highest in some our least populated counties (see Figure 3).

Recent legislation required the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to conduct a study of the issue of suicide in the Commonwealth (SDI6, 2000) and directed the Virginia Commission on Youth "to develop a comprehensive youth suicide prevention plan" (HD29, 2001; see Appendix 3). In 2001, the legislature designated VDH as the "lead agency for youth suicide prevention," indicating that VDH "shall have the lead responsibility for the youth suicide prevention program within the Commonwealth." During the 2001-2002 biennium, the legislature made an initial budget appropriation of $75,000 per year each to VDH and to the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) for activities to be conducted during the development of the Youth Suicide Prevention Plan.

In addition to activities to support the development of the study and comprehensive Plan, VDH and DMHMRSAS, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education (DOE) and other public and private entities, have used these initial funds for efforts toward implementing the 14 recommendations contained in the Plan. VDH has created and filled a new full-time employee position of Youth Violence Prevention Consultant in the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention with responsibilities that include coordination, planning, implementation, and assessment of youth suicide prevention activities as outlined in the Youth Suicide Prevention Plan. In addition to establishing leadership by organizing a coordinating committee (see Appendix 2) and participating in local state and national events, VDH has used Y3 of the allocated funds to provide grants of $5000 each to five community-based crisis centers located across the Commonwealth (see Figure 4).

VDH and DMHMRSAS have partnered to conduct a series of train-the-trainer workshops in research-based models to help "gatekeepers" (individuals who routinely have significant contact with youth) to recognize youth suicide warning signs, implement appropriate counseling intervention, and make appropriate referrals. Ongoing support is being provided to facilitate the dissemination of these trainings in local communities.

VDH has sought to increase public awareness concerning issues of childhood depression and youth suicide by obtaining, localizing, and distributing brochures on these topics and by creating a web page on its Center for Injury and Violence Prevention web site (www.vahealth.org/civp/dsprevent.htm). containing information on Virginia youth suicide prevention activities as well as links to other suicide prevention resources. DMHMRSAS worked with the Governor to declare May 8, 2001 as Childhood Depression Awareness Day and distributed 400 community action/press kits from the National Mental Health Association.

DOE has drafted, and is preparing to distribute to schools and school divisions, revised guidelines for follow-up with parents of students expressing suicidal intentions.

DMHMRSAS has continued its efforts to provide comprehensive mental health services for children, adolescents and their families through the development and implementation of its Comprehensive State Plan and, in order to provide priority treatment for suicidal youth, has added a criterion to its Child Mental Health Priority Populations which allows the inclusion of youth who have attempted or have a current plan to commit suicide.

VDH has issued two reports that include analyses of existing data on death and hospitalizations in Virginia due to self-inflicted injuries. Data is being gathered by VDH and DMHMRSAS for evaluations of gatekeeper training and community-based crisis center contract activities.

VDH has also conducted research concerning best practice models in statewide public awareness initiatives, responsible media reporting, school-based strategies, licensing and certification requirements, clinician education, and surveillance and evaluation techniques in order to fulfill all recommendations of the comprehensive Youth Suicide Prevention Plan as additional resources become available.

While additional funding will be needed to fully implement Virginia's comprehensive Youth Suicide Prevention Plan, initial progress has been made toward the implementation of each of the Plan's recommendations.

Ongoing efforts to implement the comprehensive Plan will enable Virginia to continue to apply national best practices designed to lower the risk of loss of life, injury, suffering, related health care and social costs, and the threat to healthy family and community functioning that result from attempted and completed youth suicides. Agencies, communities, and citizens at large will benefit from this coordinated effort to protect and improve the lives of all Virginians.