OCHN Commits to Being a Zero Suicide Organization

Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) is taking steps to cultivate a Zero Suicide environment within its organization and Oakland County.

Zero Suicide is the framework for systematic clinical suicide prevention in behavioral and physical healthcare systems. It focuses on safety, error reduction in healthcare, and the best practices for health systems.

“While people who are at risk of suicide are being seen in healthcare settings, more can and should be done to promote intervention efforts,” says OCHN Executive Director and CEO, Annette Downey. “Our goal is to help healthcare professionals and all Oakland County residents be better prepared to recognize warning signs and link people who are having suicidal thoughts to mental health services and support.”

There is a common myth that not all suicides are preventable, and that if someone really wants to die by suicide, he or she will. Suicide is almost always the product of a mental health illness, intolerable stress, or trauma, but with access to care for those who have a mental health illness, death by suicide can be prevented, according to the Zero Suicide philosophy.

OCHN, along with several of its service providers, attended a Zero Suicide workshop hosted by Henry Ford Health System. Workshop attendees learned strategies to understand risk signs of suicide with the goal of saving lives.

Healthcare systems that have promoted a Zero Suicide culture have seen significant reductions in suicide among the people they serve. OCHN is currently finalizing its new Zero Suicide policy, outlining protocols and practices within the agency to be followed by all staff members.

More information about Zero Suicide is available at http://zerosuicide.sprc.org/