Do you follow recommended practices for evidence-based suicide care? According to a recent article published by The Pew Charitable Trust, suicide was the 11^th cause of death in the United States in 2022; and in half of those cases the individual had interactions with a healthcare facility within 4 weeks of committing suicide. Research also indicates that only 8% of healthcare facilities have the proper interventions in place. It is critical that patients have proper access to care and knowledgeable staff available to provide support.

Healthcare providers in all settings need to know who the vulnerable population is and be aware of the warning signs often missed. Organizations must be able to screen, assess, and implement key prevention strategy. Ovation Healthcare’s Richard Salomone, a former surveyor for The Joint Commission, will lead a discussion on how you and your organization can improve screening practices, assessments, and compliance with regulatory standards to prevent suicide. This is a national problem that occurs from the smallest towns to the largest cities, impacting every community. It is vital that your facility does not wait to implement policies and protocols that can prevent suicide deaths.

If you or someone you know needs help with difficult thoughts, call or text the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.