Project Grant BH22IHS0021

FORT DEFIANCE INDIAN HOSPITAL - SPIP - THE FORT DEFIANCE INDIAN HOSPITAL BOARD, INC. (FDIHB) IS SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 SUICIDE PREVENTION INTERVENTION POSTVENTION (SPIP) FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $310,000.00 TO REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF SUICIDE AMONG AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKAN NATIVE (AI/AN) POPULATIONS WITHIN THE FORT DEFIANCE SERVICE AREA. NATIVE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY FACED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES OFTEN DO NOT ACCESS THE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THEY NEED. WHEN NATIVE YOUTH DO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, IT IS MOST OFTEN IN SCHOOL. AS A RESULT, SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ARE LEFT ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS THE UNMET MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WITHOUT THE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION TRAINING, RESOURCES, AND PROPER SYSTEMS OF CARE COORDINATED TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE CARE WILL MORE LIKELY RESULT IN MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION AND A MYRIAD OF POOR OUTCOMES. THE INTENT OF THE SUICIDE PREVENTION INTERVENTION POSTVENTION (SPIP) GRANT IS TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM-WIDE APPROACH TO IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES TO REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF SUICIDE AND CLOSE GAPS IN IMPROVING CARE COORDINATION IN THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY BY EXPANDING OUR FDIHB BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES THROUGH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE EVIDENCE-BASED AND PRACTICE-BASED MODELS AND EXPAND GENERATION INDIGENOUS INITIATIVE ACTIVITIES BY IMPLEMENTING EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR AI/AN YOUTH AT RISK OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR. SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICES REQUIRES SKILLS PROFICIENCY AND SELF-EFFICACY. THE HEALTH PROMOTION DISEASE PREVENTION (HPDP) DEPARTMENT TEAM MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE PREPARATION FOR ADULTS WORKING WITH YOUTH IN THE FORT DEFIANCE SERVICE AREA COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT PRACTICES FOUNDATIONAL TO PROMOTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUTH. THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP PROVIDED BY OUR TEAM MEMBERS WILL SUCCESSFULLY TRAIN YOUTH, SCHOOL STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS AT RISK OF SUICIDE OBTAIN THE SUPPORT NEEDED. MOREOVER, OUR TRAINED AUDIENCE WILL GAIN THE CONFIDENCE TO BE PREPARED TO PREVENT SUICIDE. PROVIDING EARLY INTERVENTIONS OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL PROVIDE SUCCESS IN PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING LOWER-RISK STATUS FROM ADOLESCENCE TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD, WITH THE CAVEAT THAT SOME HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS MAY INDICATE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL INTERVENTION TO ESTABLISH EARLY EFFECTS. TO ADDRESS THIS CAVEAT, OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AIDE(S) WILL BE WORKING WITH ONE FORT DEFIANCE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIANS TO SCREEN PATIENT RISK OF SUICIDE AND COORDINATE REFERRALS FOR YOUTH, PARENTS, AND FAMILIES TO EXPAND OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. CONDUCTING IN-SCHOOL SUICIDE RISK SCREENING TOOLS AND FOLLOW-UP CARE WILL IMPROVE OUR CARE COORDINATION WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIANS. INTERVENING EARLY WILL IMPROVE YOUTH AT RISK TO GAIN SKILLS TO MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS AND DEVELOP COPING SKILLS TO DEAL WITH STRESS, INCREASE HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIORS, AND GAIN ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE.