YES and the Community Unite for Zero Suicide Initiative
Like you, at YES, we’re dedicated to saving lives and transforming the landscape of youth mental health. With that goal in mind and thanks to support from King County, we are thrilled to announce our participation in the groundbreaking Nationwide Zero Suicide Initiative. This program is designed to rethink and improve how we prevent care for those at risk of suicide. It is a bold step forward in our mission to support every young person in our community.
Transforming Suicide Care
The Zero Suicide initiative is more than just a program; it’s an aspiration to integrate suicide prevention into EVERY part of our work.
From the moment a young person reaches out to us, we are committed to addressing their mental health needs with compassion and care, focusing on preventing suicide at every step. We are creating an environment without blame or shame, simply support and understanding. By building on the strong connections between our therapists and clients, we create a wide-reaching support system that benefits everyone in our community.
The Zero Suicide Framework
Our approach to achieving Zero Suicide is guided by a comprehensive framework that focuses on critical areas essential to effective suicide prevention. This framework includes:
- Lead System-Wide Culture Change: Build a culture prioritizing suicide prevention at every level of our organization.
- Train a Competent, Confident, and Caring Workforce: Ensure all staff are equipped with the tools, skills, and knowledge they need to provide the best care possible.
- Identify and Assess Suicide Risk: Implement comprehensive screenings early in the process to identify individuals at risk right away, every time.
- Engage People at Risk: Collaboratively create a safety plan before leaving the agency and take on the responsibility to keep the client engaged.
- Treat Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Provide evidence-based treatment, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which are the most effective and tailored to individual needs.
- Transition Care: Ensure smooth and immediate transitions between psychiatric hospitalization and outpatient care using community partnerships to create warm-handoffs.
- Improve Policies and Procedures: Continuously refine our policies to enhance suicide prevention efforts and utilize data to track progress and make informed decisions.
Our guiding principle is simple: “Zero Suicide is about taking passionate action to make positive changes for the wellbeing of our clients, community, and everyone at YES.” This passion drives us to create meaningful change and improve the lives of youth.
A Unified Approach to Care
The Zero Suicide initiative complements our ongoing efforts to prevent accidental overdose deaths and implement trauma-informed care.
We are continuously improving our processes through comprehensive training, the use of our advanced electronic health records, and adopting a holistic approach to care. By adding new steps to our care pathways and ensuring integration across all our services, we are creating a support system for our clients and staff alike.
Inspired by You
Our journey towards achieving Zero Suicide would not be possible without the unwavering support of our donors, supporters, the broader community, and especially King County for their financial support. You all have inspired us, providing the resources, encouragement, and belief that drives us forward.
Together, we are making a difference and creating a future where every young person has the support they need and no life is lost to suicide. Your support and involvement are crucial in making this vision a reality.
Community-based initiatives like Zero Sicide are only made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. Please consider making a gift today to continue providing children, youth, and families with the services and programs that support their mental health and recovery.
Thanks to donations like yours, no family is turned away because they can’t afford to pay for services.
