Zero suicide at scale: a coordinated approach to suicide prevention in healthcare - uchealth will implement zero suicide at scale, a systemwide initiative to strengthen suicide prevention across its…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services) awarded University of Colorado Health $748,851 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to implement Zero Suicide at Scale, a systemwide initiative to strengthen suicide prevention across its Colorado healthcare network.

University of Colorado Health will implement all seven elements of the Zero Suicide Framework across emergency, primary care, and behavioral health settings, expanding workforce training, standardizing suicide risk screening and assessment, establishing safety planning protocols, improving care transitions, and integrating suicide prevention workflows into electronic health records. The initiative serves adults at risk across the organization's network, reaching more than one million patients annually. Evidence-based practices deployed include Question-Persuade-Refer, counseling on access to lethal means, and collaborative assessment and management of suicidality. Expected outcomes include increased suicide risk screening rates, expanded delivery of evidence-based interventions, stronger care coordination, enhanced data-driven quality improvement, and a sustainable, systemwide approach to suicide prevention.

Performance occurs in Aurora, Colorado. The period of performance runs from the award date through September 29, 2031.

Zero suicide at scale: a coordinated approach to suicide prevention in healthcare - uchealth will implement zero suicide at scale, a systemwide initiative to strengthen suicide prevention across its colorado healthcare network, serving adults at risk in emergency, primary care, and behavioral health settings. Reaching more than one million patients annually, the project will implement all seven elements of the zero suicide framework by expanding workforce training, standardizing suicide risk screening, assessment, safety planning, care transitions, and electronic health record workflows. Evidence-based practices include question-persuade-refer, counseling on access to lethal means, and collaborative assessment and management of suicidality. Expected outcomes include increased suicide risk screening, expanded delivery of evidence-based interventions, stronger care coordination, enhanced data-driven quality improvement, and a sustainable, systemwide approach to suicide prevention.