Key lessons from implementing a zero-suicide framework in a youth service
Suicide and suicidal behaviour among children and adolescents is a significant concern, and services are seeking new ways to meet the needs of individuals and families seeking care.
A recently published paper (Brandjerdporn et al., 2024) describes lessons learned in implementing the first Suicide Prevention Pathway based on the Zero Suicide Framework at a Child and Youth Mental Health Service in Queensland, Australia.
The pathway includes elements that feature in the SafeSide Framework: the use of prevention-oriented risk formulation; safety planning, including lethal means safety and routine follow-up; and extensions of care.
For anyone interested in systems approaches to suicide prevention, this article is worth a close read as the authors bring out the nuances involved in applying the Zero Suicide Framework in a youth setting. Here are three key learnings.
- A systems approach is needed. This includes:
- Understanding the strengths and risks for the individual youth, as well as their family and their broader context.
- A focus on systemic and cultural change as well as training, a pathway of care, and data-driven continuous improvement.
- Engaging parents/carers and other support is critical. While youth buy-in and collaboration are important, having parents/carers and other adults involved in and contributing to contingency and safety planning, including lethal means safety, is non-negotiable.
- Engaging young people takes time and effort, so follow-ups are crucial to building rapport and understanding their perspective, especially since they may not open up initially at emergency presentations.
Bottom line: This paper provides practical insights into the strategies the authors used to adapt an adult suicide prevention pathway based on the Zero Suicide Framework for a Youth Mental Health service. It will be a valuable resource for those interested in systems approaches to suicide prevention in a range of settings, including youth services.
Note: SafeSide Prevention founder Prof. Tony Pisani was a contributing author to this article. Read about SafeSide’s link to Gold Coast’s Mental Health and Specialist Service here.