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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
IHS Zero Suicide Initiative

2022 IHS Zero Suicide Initiative Federal Facilities Funding

Funding Announcement

The Zero Suicide Initiative program award opportunity is available for federal sites. If you are an IHS Facility (IHS Service Unit, IHS clinic or hospital) you can apply for the federal program funding opportunity.

Zero Suicide Initiative for Federal Awardees/Sites

Expected Number of Awards: 8 to 10
Award Ceiling: $150,000
Award Floor: $100,000
Project Period: 5 years
Due Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at close of business

Project Description

The purpose of the Zero Suicide Initiative (ZSI) Federal Awardee program is to improve the system of care for those at risk for suicide by implementing a comprehensive, culturally informed, multi-setting approach to suicide prevention in Indian health systems. This award represents a continuation of the IHS effort to implement the Zero Suicide approach in Indian Country. The purpose of this funding opportunity is for federal awardees to focus solely on one of the Seven Elements of the Zero Suicide model as developed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov . Focus will be on the element of Improve, which focuses on applying a data-driven, quality improvement approach to inform system changes that will lead to improved patient outcomes and better care for those at risk.

Eligibility to apply

  • Must be a federal facility within the Indian Health system, providing inpatient medical services in addition to mental health and behavioral health services.
  • Must have current staffing capacity without out additional hire to fulfill outlined requirement.

By funding the federal sites, DBH aims to build the suicide surveillance data capacity of mental health and behavioral health services related to inpatient medical services specific to suicide prevention.

IHS requires the following data points, among others to be announced, to be collected by their ZSI federal awardees:

  1. Number of screenings performed.
  2. Number of those above screening cut-off who receive a full suicide risk assessment.
  3. Numbers of those receiving a full risk assessment who have a collaboratively developed safety plan.
  4. Number of those with a collaboratively developed safety plan who have been counseled on reduction of access to lethal means.
  5. Percentage of all behavioral health clinicians who use evidence-based practices to directly treat those at risk for suicide.
  6. Percentage of follow-up on those who may be at risk for suicide to ensure safe transitions through care.
  7. Percentage of documentation on every suicide related behavior including loss by suicide.

How to apply

Interested Federal Sites should submit the Site Capacity Assessment Form and a Letter of Interest.