Zero Suicide

Lenape Valley Foundation (LVF) is committed to improving the care that we provide individuals who are struggling with suicidal thoughts.  The most vital difference we can make through our work is to save lives.  We hope to make suicide a “never event”.  To some this may sound audacious, but simply put, one life lost to suicide is one too many.  To achieve this goal, LVF has joined the national Zero Suicide initiative.

What does this mean for the people we help?

• You will be asked at each time we meet with you if you are struggling with thoughts of suicide.  We will be asking these questions at Initial Evaluations, Crisis Evaluations, and any Outpatient or Partial Hospital appointments.  This will be done in your group sessions and in person during your individual sessions, using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).  Asking about current suicidal thoughts at every visit will be like when you go to your primary care doctor and they check your blood pressure at every visit, regardless of the reason for the visit.
• If you answer “yes” you will have an opportunity to have further individual discussion with an LVF staff member about your thoughts/feelings around suicide.  The staff person will assist you in creating an emergency prevention plan or arranging for a higher level of care, should it be necessary.
• If you have ongoing intense suicidal thoughts and plans, you will be put on the Zero Suicide Treatment Pathway.  Once on this treatment pathway, you will receive treatment that has been shown to reduce suicidal thoughts. You will remain with your current treatment team while engaging in this treatment.  When you leave treatment at LVF, you will receive follow up phone call to check on your wellbeing.
• We want your family and/or support systems involved in treatment with you.  Your support systems are often the first ones to notice improvement or when you are struggling more.  Please help us in engaging them in your treatment.

Our consumers are important to us and our goal is to work with you in meeting your treatment and life goals.