DETROIT – Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, but Henry Ford Health hopes their proven program can help change that.
The initiative, called the “Zero Suicide Model,” has shown a significant impact, with a new study finding it reduced suicide rates by up to 25 percent in locations where it was adopted.
“The Zero Suicide model was originally developed and pioneered here at Henry Ford Health in 2001, so we’ve been doing this work for 24 years now,” said Dr. Brian Ahmedani.
During that time, he noted, they’ve significantly reduced suicides among their patients, even reaching zero suicides in some years.
“Now the model is being introduced to healthcare systems across the United States and in more than 25 countries worldwide,” he added.
To prove the Zero Suicide Model is effective in various healthcare systems, researchers studied its implementation across five states—California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Michigan -- over eight years. It was able to reduce suicide deaths by as much as 25%.
So, how does it work? Nearly every person who dies by suicide visits a doctor’s office in the year before their death, presenting an opportunity for intervention. Patients fill out a suicide risk screening survey, and those identified as at risk collaborate with a member of the care team to create a safety plan. This plan includes emergency contacts, tools to reduce suicidal thoughts, ways to make their home safe, and referrals for additional help.
“There are different protocols, so if somebody is really highly at risk, we can get them in right away,” Dr. Ahmedani explained.
Ahmedani hopes the findings of this latest study will encourage more health systems to adopt their model.
“We’re showing in multiple healthcare settings that we can reduce suicide and that there is a pathway to help prevent suicide for patients and families, as well as a model for healthcare systems to prevent suicide among their patient populations,” he said.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. It’s confidential, and counselors are available 24 hours a day.
