Umatter -- Suicide Prevention in New England!

What is Zero Suicide?  Zero Suicide is a commitment to suicide prevention in health and mental health care systems. It involves the implementation of a set of evidence-based tools and strategies used in a pathway of care for people who are suicidal.

When implemented effectively, Zero Suicide reduces suicide deaths.

The VT Suicide Prevention Center presented this year, for the first time, our Zero Suicide Practice Institute.  The Institute included two full days of teamwork and learning from national speakers and Vermont colleagues. It engaged leadership teams to understand Zero Suicide at a deep practical level, and to promote and support its implementation in their own health systems, in collaboration with state and community systems.

15 teams from a variety of healthcare settings participated, including Mental Health Agencies in VT, hospitals, primary care and elder care, and representing Blue Cross Blue Shield, One Care and VT Blueprint for Health .  Guided by Dr. Michael Hogan, a national Zero Suicide Consultant, these teams assessed organizational readiness to provide suicide safer care and identified next steps for their work. Dr. Steven Broer of Northwestern Counseling and Support Services, a pioneer of Zero Suicide in Vermont, and Dr. Thomas Delaney, UVM, suicide prevention evaluator and researcher, served as faculty presenting Vermont data and models. Teams also focused on clinical elements of screening, assessment, treatment, lethal means restriction, follow-up, care coordination, caring contact and considered linkages between organizations for suicide prevention. 

The event was sponsored by: 

The Family of Alan Lopez Gottesman
Blue Cross Blue Shield VT
Brattleboro Retreat
Chroma Technology
Kinney Pike Insurance
North Country Hospital
One Care
UVM Medical Center. 

Many thanks to all who sponsored and attended for moving forward with this important work.

CHL offers Umatter “Training of Trainers” in Grand Isle County

People are more likely to reveal their despair and intent to hurt themselves to the supportive people around them.  When prepared, youth, adults, and professionals can respond correctly when anyone needs help.  Umatter Suicide Prevention “Training of Trainers” (ToT) trains participants to identify, intervene, and get help for dealing with suicidal ideation.

The Center for Health and Learning provided a Training of Trainers to 12 community members from the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi in Grand Isle County.  This ToT was provided as part of “Connecting Rural Communities”—a grant from the University of Vermont’s Collective Impact fund.  

For Connecting Rural Communities, CHL, Northwestern Counseling and Support Services (a mental health provider in Grand Isle County) and the Parental Advisory Committee (a committee comprised of Abenaki parents, elders, students, and teachers which oversees educational and cultural supports for Abenaki children in area public schools) partnered to do an assessment of suicide safer services in Grand Isle.  CHL has applied for funding to continue the work of Connecting Rural Communities, and once funded, those who participated in the ToT will help train other professionals who come into contact with people at risk of suicide to recognize the signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation and learn when and how to help. 

Thank you Fair Haven Union High School!

All of us at the Center for Health and Learning (CHL) and the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center (VT-SPC) are grateful to the students and teachers at Fair Haven Union High School for organizing their Hoops for Hope fundraiser to support the work of the VT-SPC and programs like Umatter. 

Their hard work and dedication raised over $4,400 and helped increase important awareness about suicide prevention.

Help us continue this important work by making a recurring or one time donation so that we can reach more communities.