Implementing Universal Suicide Risk Screening in a Pediatric Hospital

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Public health interventions
• Mental health screening

Background:

• Healthcare providers are vital for identifying at-risk adolescents.
• Many providers lack effective methods for suicide risk identification.
• A hospitalwide program was developed to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a hospitalwide suicide risk screening program for adolescents.
• To connect identified at-risk teens with necessary mental health services.
• To assess the feasibility and initial outcomes of the screening program.

Main Methods:

• Screening implemented across pediatric hospital locations, including emergency and ambulatory clinics.
• Utilized Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) for risk assessment.
• Social workers conducted further assessments and follow-up for positive screens.

Main Results:

• Over 138,000 screens completed in the first year.
• 6.8% of adolescent patients screened positive for elevated suicide risk.
• Annualized program cost estimated at $887,708.65 for personnel.

Conclusions:

• Successful implementation hinges on early stakeholder engagement and strong leadership.
• A robust response plan is critical for effective suicide screening programs.
• The program demonstrates a viable approach to identifying and supporting at-risk youth.