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| TO: | All Indian Health Service Employees |
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| FROM: | Director, Indian Health Service |
| SUBJECT: | Indian Health Service Universal Suicide Risk Screening Policy Statement |
The purpose of this Special General Memorandum (SGM) is to provide Indian Health Service (IHS) providers with guidance regarding the recommendation for implementing suicide risk screenings.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from September 16, 2022, suicide disproportionally affects American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. From 2015 to 2020, 76 percent of all AI/AN suicide decedents were less than 44 years old. Suicide rates among AI/AN people increased nearly 20 percent from 2015 to 2020. Early detection and screening are important to detect suicide risks at the earliest stage possible to optimize treatment and reduce suicide rates.
It is the policy of the IHS that all providers will follow the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal and the Indian Health Manual, Part 3, Chapter 34 Suicide Prevention and Care policy for suicide prevention in an effort to reduce the risk for suicide by screening all AI/AN patients served for suicidal ideation using the validated screening tool, Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), to detect suicide risk and ensure appropriate care and treatment is taken. See attachment A, “National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 15.01.01” to find screening and care recommendations.
Effective Date
This SGM becomes effective on the date signed.
/Roselyn Tso/
Roselyn Tso
Attachment A: National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) 15.01.01
