QI PROGRAMS / MOC IV

Store it Safe Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program

REVERSING THE TREND OF IRREVERSIBLE ACTIONS

Store It Safe began more than 5 years ago as a unique partnership of healthcare providers, firearm safety experts, and community organizations established to keep children safe from unintentional firearm deaths and teens safe from suicide by firearms. Through this partnership the Store It Safe (SIS) Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program has been developed to help achieve these goals.

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General Information

This program will provide education and resources so all healthcare providers and those who work with adolescents can inform families of risks so they can keep their teens safe.

Adolescent suicide has increased 58% in the past 10 years
The teen brain is still developing, which can lead to emotional situations that override their still-developing impulse control
Teens can engage in risky behaviors and react to seemingly small stressors

Through the SIS Adolescent Suicide Prevention QI Program the Ohio AAP will empower providers to identify and address the risks of adolescent suicide at all encounters with teens. Training on using evidence-based screening tools will be provided, as well as resources for discussions with all families to ensure a plan is in place for eventual times of crisis.

History

In response to the unacceptable rate of firearm injury to children, the Ohio AAP established the Partnership for the Safety of Children Around Firearms in 2015. Since that year, unintentional firearm injury has impacted children in more than 25% of Ohio’s counties. Compared to other countries, American children are 12 times more likely to be killed by a gun, including 9 times more likely to die of an accidental gun injury and 10 times more likely to die of a gun suicide. Discussion around gun safety has historically been emotional and not productive between organizations and citizens, with many opportunities to improve counseling by pediatricians to encourage families to practice safer behaviors.

The Partnership brings together organizations and individuals, with different viewpoints about firearms, to develop unified messaging, resources, and approaches to reduce unintentional gun injuries and deaths in children, and suicides by firearms in adolescents. Members of the Partnership, founded and staffed by the Ohio AAP, include the Buckeye Firearms Association, Blackwing Shooting Center, Columbus Kiwanis Club, Reinberger Foundation, Columbus Police, Ohio Children’s Trust Fund, and others. The program developed by the Partnership is the Store It Safe (SIS) Program.

The SIS Program is a multi-faceted effort designed to reduce unintentional firearm injuries for young children and to prevent suicides in adolescents. The program also focuses on increasing awareness of the risks of unsecured firearms among healthcare providers, parents, community organizations, and the public.

Program Outcomes:

Raised more than $75,000 in funding to provide gun boxes and other program resources to launch the Store It Safe Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program in 2020.
Created materials for teens, parents and providers to improve discussion of adolescent suicide and access to resources.
Demonstrated ability for providers to increase discussion of firearms safety in primary care visits for young children from none of the time to all visits through focused quality improvement.

QI PROGRAMS / MOC IV

Store it Safe Adolescent Suicide Prevention Program

REVERSING THE TREND OF IRREVERSIBLE ACTIONS

General Information

History

Literature and Resources:

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Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics