Guam focus on life (gfol) program - the guam behavioral health and wellness center (gbhwc), guam's single state authority for mental health and substance use, is requesting GLS-2026 funding to…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center $735,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to expand the Guam Focus on Life (GFOL) program, a youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention initiative.

GFOL serves youth up to age 24 across Guam's entire territory, representing approximately 23 percent of the island's 153,000 residents. The program operates through four coordinated youth-service systems: the Guam Behavioral Health & Wellness Center Mobile Crisis Response Team, University of Guam I'Pinangon, Sanctuary Inc. (operated by Westcare Pacific Islands), and the Department of Youth Affairs. The initiative shifts Guam's suicide prevention model from standalone awareness campaigns to an accelerated, integrated, data-driven, culturally responsive crisis network addressing a public health emergency; Guam's age-adjusted suicide rate of 28.9 per 100,000 in 2024 more than doubles the provisional U.S. rate of 13.6 per 100,000, with indigenous Chamorus experiencing the highest localized rate at 57 per 100,000.

The award funds establishment of a cross-sector risk response system through formal memoranda of understanding and uniform Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale screening protocols across all four partner systems by the end of year one, targeting screening of at least 200 youth annually in years two through five to achieve a 25 percent increase in completed crisis referral pathways. The program also expands community helper capacity through structured prevention supports. Performance runs through September 29, 2031, with all work performed in Guam.

Guam focus on life (gfol) program - the guam behavioral health and wellness center (gbhwc), guam's single state authority for mental health and substance use, is requesting GLS-2026 funding to expand the guam focus on life (gfol) program. This initiative shifts guam's suicide prevention model from standalone awareness campaigns to an accelerated, highly integrated, data-driven, and culturally responsive youth crisis network. Gfol directly serves youth up to age 24 across the entire U.S. Territory of guam (representing 23% of the island's 153,000 residents) through four coordinated youth-service providing systems: 1) gbhwc-mcrt (mobile crisis response team), 2) university of guam (UOG) i'pinangon, 3) sanctuary INC. (operated by westcare pacific islands), 4) department of youth affairs (DYA). Youth suicide in guam is an escalating public health emergency that significantly outpaces U.S. National averages. In 2024, guam recorded an age-adjusted suicide rate of 28.9 per 100,000-more than double the provisional U.S. Rate of 13.6 per 100,000. Individuals under 30 accounted for 44% of all suicide deaths from 2014-2024, with the 20-29 age bracket representing the largest distinct share at 33%. The male-to-female suicide ratio is a stark 9:1, and indigenous chamorus experience the highest localized rate at 57 per 100,000. 88% of youth suicides occur at home, yet families lack structured prevention supports. Concurrently, the island suffers from a lack of cross-sector screening tools and fragmented school crisis protocols. Goals and measurable objectives: •goal 1: establish an accelerated cross-sector risk response system. Execute formal mous and operationalize uniform columbia suicide severity rating scale (c-ssrs) screening protocols across all four partner systems by the end of year 1. Screen at least 200 youth throughout the partner systems annually in years 2-5 to achieve a 25% increase in completed crisis referral pathways. • goal 2: expand community helper capacity. Ensure 85% of partner direct-service staff complete baseline training by the end of year 2. Train 1,275 community helpers and engage at least 200 youth via the safegu mobile APP featuring 988 click-to-call integration. • goal 3: build sustainable data infrastructure. Fully operationalize the interagency suicide mortality review team (smrt) by the end of year 1 to track real-time trends and epidemiological reporting. The program will be managed by a robustly trained team led by a project director, a program manager, and a contractual project evaluator. Key activities include tiered cross-sector c-ssrs screening, a train-the-trainer framework to insulate the project against workforce turnover, and localized awareness messaging amplified via multi-media platforms. To maximize continuity of care, mcrt and 988 will implement a mandatory post-crisis contact protocol supporting youth and families from 72 hours up to one year post-activation. All five required samhsa suprt-p indicators will be compiled and uploaded to spars as required.