Geographic Area: Washington

Role of criminal defense attorneys in suicide prevention following defendant arrest

This study will explore the role that criminal defense attorneys could play in reducing risk of suicide amongst recently arrested criminal defendants. Suicide is the leading cause of death in jails and the period after recent arrest may be a particularly vulnerable time for suicide. For many persons with recent arrest, their attorney is one of only a small number of persons that they encounter in the days following arrest. This proposal aims to better understand the experience of the criminal defense attorney in working with clients who have suicidal thinking or behavior; training they have received in the past; desired training (such as suicide risk identification, trauma-informed care, resources); and challenges in disclosures in light of their professional responsibility to preserve client confidences. 

Developing a resource toolkit for clinician survivors of suicide loss

This project will develop a resource toolkit for clinician survivors of suicide loss. For clinicians, the death of a patient by suicide is a dreaded event and can be more distressing than death and dying encountered in other clinical situations. In response to patient suicide, some clinician survivors experience emotional and psychological distress that may reach clinical levels and negative and sometimes persisting effects on professional practice. Building on existing reference materials, we will develop a toolkit of resources to guide and support faculty, clinical staff and trainee clinician-survivors affiliated with the department hospitals. These resources would address educational, emotional, administrative and spiritual needs of clinician-survivors.

Suicide risk screening in acute and intensive care at a Level 1 Trauma Center

Patients hospitalized for medical, surgical, or traumatic injury reasons at Harborview Medical Center are universally screened for suicide risk. The present research will advance knowledge about the practices occurring at this large healthcare institution serving the public and social safety net population and set the groundwork necessary for conducting future research designed to improve services not only at Harborview but at similar institutions across the U.S. A team led by Doyanne Darnell, PhD, and Imara West (Research Scientist at Data Quest) will capture population-level electronic health record (EHR) data on suicide screening rates and outcomes among medically hospitalized patients for a 1-year period and gain insight into the context of the data captured through focus groups with acute/intensive care nurses.

Using routine alcohol screening measures to identify 1-year risk of suicidal ideation, intent, and planning within a large primary care system in Washington

This study will use a large population-based primary care sample in Washington state to understand how heavy alcohol use and alcohol use disorder symptoms contribute to suicidal thoughts. This study will allow examination of how different levels of alcohol use can predict short term risk of suicidality and allow us to better identify and support patients at risk of suicide in the primary care setting.

Evaluation of a new approach to youth suicidal crises: Swift Outpatient Alternatives for Rapid Stabilization (SOARS)

The study will evaluate a novel program developed by our team to improve the effective outpatient management of youth with acute suicide risk. This program evaluation examines just-in time intervention to assess suicide risk level, address imminent risk, and begin treatment to address ideographic suicidal drivers over time. The clinic has served over 200 youth and families since 2019. Qualitative and quantitative data from youth, caregivers, and clinicians demonstrate high levels of fidelity, feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability, however, impact on core health outcomes has not been conducted. This funding will allow for analysis of the treatment program to demonstrate the impact of the intervention on suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS)

Our goals for this project include (1) Design competency framework and learning objectives that define the role and scope of practice for a BHSS; (2) Scale the role for Washington state by creating processes for integrating the BHSS Clinical Training Program into existing four-year degree programs in the behavioral healthcare field; (3) Partner with Washington state higher education institutions to adopt the BHSS Clinical Training Program; (4) Develop curricular resources to share with Washington State colleges and universities including an Educator’s Guide; (5) Collaborate with government agencies, employers, and policy groups to implement legislation establishing a BHSS credential in Washington state.

For information, please contact:
Bill O’Connell, Ed.D.
Director, Clinical Training Program

Savannah Tidwell, BS
tidwell1@uw.edu
Program Manager, Clinical Training Program

Project Better

The co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hazardous drinking (HD) can be particularly devastating; though evidence-based treatments exist, many individuals with this co-occurrence drop out from or do not or cannot access specialty care. Text-messaging is a mode of intervention delivery that is low-cost, low-burden, and accessible to most people; development and testing of self-directed text message interventions that use evidence- and theoretically-based strategies to reduce PTSD and HD symptom burden is highly needed. Such interventions have the potential for great clinical significance via providing additional, novel treatment options that are readily scalable and have wide reach and thus can have a large impact on individual and public health.

NORTH: Developing a mobile health intervention to support treatment seeking in early psychosis

The proposed research project proposes to develop and test a mobile intervention, Normalizing Orientation to Treatment and Help-Seeking (NORTH) designed to impact knowledge and attitudes to encourage help-seeking among young adults at risk for psychosis. This project involves (1) a needs assessment to understand barriers, interests and preferences related to mHealth and in-person treatment, (2) development, refinement and usability testing of NORTH, and (3) a pilot randomized controlled trial assessing feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy compared to an active control mHealth intervention providing only stress management.