The Zero Suicide Initiative is a nationwide program that aims to reduce pediatric self-harm and death by suicide. Seattle Children’s Hospital created a Zero Suicide Initiative Pathway for use with children and youth presenting for care to allow for standardized processes for suicide risk screening and assessment for triage to resources across the organization. All patients at Seattle Children’s age 10 and older are screened with a standard questionnaire to address the increasing number of youth attempting suicide. Those who are at risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors are connected with the appropriate resources and care. The program screens about 1,000 patients per month, of which about one-quarter exhibit thoughts or behaviors of self-harm.

This work received the Community Health Leadership Award from the Washington State Hospital Association in 2019. The Zero Suicide Initiative Pathway Team co-led by Molly Adrian, PhD, has been working to expand the scope of the program from acute care to hospital-wide implementation this year. Watch this video spotlight to learn more