A Brief Description of Maine’s Program, Lessons Learned, and Resources 5/07

1. A Brief Description of Maine’s Program, Lessons Learned, and Resources 5/07

2. Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program (MYSPP) History • 1987 Statute requiring program • 1995-6 Governor King Task Force • 1996-7 Children’s Cabinet Work Teams • 1997-8 EMSC grant obtained • 1998 Original Plan implemented • 2000 Children’s Cabinet Statute/Initiative • 2002 CDC Grant • 2005 Governor Executive Order • 2005 SAMHSA Grant

3. MYSPP Organization • Coordination-DHHS, ME CDC • Collaborating Departments of State Government • Steering Committee • Sub-Committees • Maine Youth Action Network

4. State Partners in Collaboration • Governor’s Office/Children’s Cabinet • Health & Human Services/Public Health, & Behavioral Health • Education • Public Safety • Corrections • Labor (added in 2003)

5. External Partners in Collaboration • Crisis Agency Directors • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) • Maine Youth Action Network • Keeping Maine’s Children Connected • Universities • Local School Systems and Community Agencies & Organizations • Local Police and EMS

6. MYSPP Funding Sources • MCH Block Grant • PHHS Block Grant • SAMHSA Garrett Lee Smith grant • State General Fund • Children’s Cabinet • Participant fees & Private Donations

7. MYSPP Goals • To Reduce the Incidence of Suicide & Suicidal Behavior Among 10 – 24 Year Olds • Ten goals developed in 2006 to align with the Suicide Prevention National Strategy

8. MYSPP Components • Statewide Crisis Hotline & Information and Resource Center • Public awareness resources and programs • Training programs • Lethal means education • Media education • Data collection • Evaluation of selected strategies

9. MYSPP Features • Gatekeeper Training • Beyond the Basics of Suicide Prevention Annual Conference • Lifelines Teacher Training • TOT for Awareness Education • Protocol Workshops • Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Guidelines • Website

10. Maine’s CDC Project 12 ME High Schools – 5 with <500 students 7 >500 students Goals: Increase School Readiness to: • Identify, appropriately respond and refer youth at risk for suicide; and • Effectively manage the school environment following a suicide.

11. A Comprehensive Youth Suicide Prevention ProgramLifelines Program • -Identify Key School Staff • Identify At-Risk Students • Provide Appropriate Assistance • Responding tp Attempt • Transitioning Students • Aftermath of a Suicide Administrative Protocols Comprehensive School Suicide Prevention Program Memorandum of Agreement with Crisis Provider • Outline of Available Services • How to Access Services • What to Expect When Services Are Requested Knowledgeable Adult School Community (GK, TOT, LL) • Gatekeeper Training selected staff • Suicide Prevention Awareness for All Staff • Parent /community Information and Resources • Lifelines Teacher Training Student Suicide Prevention Lessons • Lifelines Student Lessons

12. Key Findings from CDC Project • Technical assistance vital to protocol development & overall implementation • Protocols a critical component for schools • Administrative support essential to success • To be adopted by schools, student lessons must align with State learning standards • Readiness to respond to suicidal behavior and to manage the school environment inc.

13. Gatekeeper Training Findings 226 trained, 10-29 at each school • Readiness to Intervene with at risk students (measured by 6 items: comfort, confidence, knowledge and willingness to intervene) increased significantly between pre-test and 6 mo follow-up survey • Identification and referral increased slightly • Teachers highest rate of referrals

14. Awareness Education Findings • 75% of faculty & staff in project schools received education • 91% received information about protocols • >90% knew where to refer a student about whom they were concerned • Confidence in knowing what to do increased from 34% to 64%

15. Lifelines Student Lessons Findings Pre- & post-tests, classroom observation & control groups in 2 schools Students showed: • Significant increase in favorable attitudes toward help seeking from adults • Significant increase in confidence in school’s ability to respond • Improved knowledge of suicide prevention and helping resources

16. Event Reports Identified Referred Students • Data gathered from 9/04-6/06: • 344 for 12 schools - 65% females, 35% males • School staff referral rates: teachers, administrators, nurses & guidance counselors • 61 students referred self or other student • 38% cases immediately referred to crisis services & 16% cases immediately referred to hospital ED • 20% at risk of suicide, 19% possibly at risk • 43% no immediate suicide risk, help needed

17. MYSPP Strengths • Governor & Children’s Cabinet Support • Collaboration across departments • Having both a program coordinator AND a training and education coordinator • Dedicated personnel with longevity • Valued by participants and survivors • Grant writing efforts secured federal funding (EMS-C, CDC, SAMHSA)

18. Strategic Issues • Maintaining & strengthening participation in implementing MYSPP activities among all Children’s Cabinet agencies; • Increasing partnerships with key stakeholders outside of state government such as survivors; • Strengthening efforts to be inclusive in planning and implementing culturally sensitive program components; • Planning for and obtaining continued funding to increase integration of suicide prevention within multiple systems; • Addressing rural issues such as firearms and accessibility of services; and • Improving the collection & analysis of data to monitor health status & guide development & evaluation of initiatives.

19. MYSPP Resources • Information booklet • Gatekeeper manual • Youth Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Guidelines • CDC Project: Notes From the Field & Evaluation Report • Suicide Surveillance Report • A Life Saved video • Website:www.mainesuicideprevention.org

20. More information • MYSPP web sitewww.mainesuicideprevention.org • Contacts MYSPP Coordinator Cheryl DiCara cheryl.m.dicara@maine.gov (207) 287-5362 MYSPP Training and Education Project Director Linda Williams lwilliams@mcd.org (207) 622-7566 ext.243 Teen and Young Adult Health Director Nancy Birkhimer nancy.birkhimer@maine.gov (207) 287-5361 Information and Resource Center osa.ircosa@maine.gov (207) 287-8900