Project Grant H79SM090850

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded The Medical University of South Carolina $399,058 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to implement and sustain the Zero Suicide Framework in outpatient psychiatric care across the institution's hospital system.

The recipient will implement the Zero Suicide Framework beginning at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center and expanding across the Department of Psychiatry by year three. The project integrates workforce training, standardized screening using the PHQ-9 and C-SSRS assessments, safety planning intervention with lethal means counseling, follow-up after care transitions, and cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention. Electronic health record workflows, continuous quality improvement, and community partnerships will support implementation. The initiative targets adults receiving behavioral health care to improve identification, treatment, and continuity of care while building a sustainable, systemwide suicide prevention model.

Work is performed in Charleston, South Carolina. The period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031. The award is a Project Grant, a form of assistance funding that supports knowledge development, application, and evaluation projects aligned with the Center for Mental Health Services' mission to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for Americans with mental health conditions.