Developing an educational workshop on teen depression and suicide: a proactive community intervention

Eight years into the YES emergency services collaboration, a comprehensive Youth Emergency Services model has emerged, one that incorporates a proactive approach to clinical and prevention strategies. In addition to direct service provision, these strategies include: (1) workshop training of school and community professionals so that they can identify young persons at highest risk for suicidal thoughts, threats, and attempts; (2) prevention education for both adolescents and parents about suicide, risk factors, and interventions; (3) a partnership with the local hotline to facilitate community screening and referral to appropriate crisis services for families and youths; (4) collaboration with a large primary care provider network to streamline the after-hours crisis referral process, using the hotline; and (5) the use of a website to inform individuals about services and resources. It is proposed that this is a contemporary model that can meet the present primary and secondary intervention needs for children, adolescents, and their families.