Making the Case for Evidence-Based Practice

This section provides tools and resources for you, as individual practitioners and concerned stakeholders, to “make the case” for adopting evidence-based practices for suicide prevention in your state.

Quick Facts About Adolescents And Suicide

What Is Happening In My State?

Does my state have a suicide prevention plan?
What state resources exist to address adolescent suicide prevention?
What is the prevalence of suicide attempts and successes in my state?

The Suicide Prevention Action Network USA (SPAN USA), a partner with the NASW SHIFT Project, provides information about what is happening in your state, including links to your state’s suicide prevention plan, state prevalence data, and local suicide prevention advocates and resources. Click here for more information.

What Are Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs)?

Evidence-based practices are interventions shown to be effective through strong scientific research. View this video clip to hear Edward Mullen, DSW of Columbia University, discuss definitions of Evidence-based Practices, describing how these different definitions intersect. [VIDEO CLIP]

Video clip is provided compliments of Danya International and is available through the REACH-SW curriculum enhancement tool. [http://www.danya.com/reach/about.html]

Why Use Evidence-Based Practices?

When available and appropriate, the use of an evidence-based practice ensures that the intervention, when used as intended, will produce the desired outcomes. Interventions with proven success will be more widely disseminated and benefit a greater number of people.

How Are Evidence-Based Practices Related To The National Strategy For Suicide Prevention?

The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP) was prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with public and private stakeholders and serves as a blueprint of goals and objectives to prevent suicide. It outlines eleven goals that provide a framework for developing an array of suicide prevention services and programs.

The fourth goal, Developing and Implementing Suicide Prevention Programs, includes the specific objective of increasing the number of evidence-based suicide prevention programs in schools, colleges and universities, work sites, correctional institutions, aging programs, and family, youth, and community service programs. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Goals and Objectives for Action: Summary is available online at http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/suicideprevention/strategy.asp

What Is A State Research To Practice Team?

The SHIFT Project R2P team is a state-based coalition of change-oriented organizations and individuals working to promote the adoption of evidence-based suicide prevention programs for adolescent girls.

Why Develop A State Research To Practice Team?

Your state Suicide Prevention Coalition wants to support and advance EBP adoption.
Relevant state agencies have policies that require the adoption of EBPs.
Suicide prevention stakeholders have an interest in EBPs. For example, a local survivors of suicide group is interested in increasing the use of suicide prevention and intervention practices that have been shown through research to reduce suicidal behaviors.
State and local demographics warrant new perspectives and treatment methods. For example, in reviewing your state/community data on suicide, have you noticed changes in suicide rates for different populations (by age, ethnicity, and/or gender) that should be considered in treatment programming?
A high profile incident(s) has brought increased attention to adolescent suicide and creates an opportunity to advocate for EBPs to address suicide prevention and intervention.

What Is The Community Assessment?

The Community Assessment (Part 1 and Part 2) is a tool that the R2P team or stakeholders can use to:

Establish the need for suicide prevention and intervention efforts tailored towards adolescent girls
Identify potential resources, opportunities, and barriers for addressing this issue and advancing an evidence-based practice model