General Information
The Ohio AAP’s SIS Adolescent Suicide Prevention QI Program will empower physicians and other healthcare professionals to identify and address the risks of suicide at all encounters with adolescents. 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. Ohio AAP surveys of parents have found that pediatricians are a trusted source of information on preventing access to lethal means, a unique aspect of the SIS QI Program.
Important reasons to prioritize adolescent mental health in your practice include:
- At any given time, one in five teens are depressed
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 10 to 19 year-olds
- Suicide in teens can be triggered by a seemingly small stressor and can happen quickly
Enrollment is open now for practices to join the new wave of the Store It Safe Adolescent Suicide Prevention QI Program launching in July! Through an exciting new partnership with the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, the Ohio AAP will work with20 additional practices in the counties with the highest needs will receive tailored QI coaching and resources as part of a focused six-month QI program.
Program Participation Benefits Include:
- Earning ABP or ABFM MOC points
- Safe storage options, such as lock boxes, valued at $1,500
- $1,000 stipend to support your practice
This program builds on the successful history of SIS QI projects and Ohio AAP QI expertise. The previous SIS pilot projects included a program to improve discussions of safe storage of lethal means with young children, and adolescent suicide and depression screening with adolescents.
Program Outcomes for the SIS QI Pilots Include:
- Engaging 12 practices in Ohio to implement discussion of barrier methods for safety and lethal means
- Improved discussion of safe storage by 69% in QI participants
- Increased confidence in discussing suicide prevention in all participants
- Created materials for teens, parents and providers to improve discussion of adolescent suicide and access to resources
Staff & Leadership
- Sarah Denny, MD, FAAP – Medical Director
- Michael Gittelman, MD, FAAP – Medical Director
- Hayley Southworth, MS – Program Manager
Education Resources: