Program Overview

Introduction to the PRiSMM Telemental Health Toolkit

The Preventing Suicide in Michigan Men (PRiSMM) program is a 5-year CDC grant-funded initiative aimed at reducing suicide in men ages 25 and older. Led by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), this comprehensive, multi-sector partnership targets the male population in the state.

Program Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of the PRiSMM project is to reduce the number of suicide deaths and attempts among men ages 25 and older by at least 10 percent by 2024. This initiative is one of nine projects in the U.S. to receive grant funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The PRiSMM Telehealth Toolkit

The PRiSMM Telehealth Toolkit is a resource for providers to help strengthen access and delivery of suicide care. This toolkit is a work in progress, with resources and tools updated frequently. It is piloted by a network of providers who receive training and provide ongoing input.

Key Components of the Toolkit

• Online professional development courses
• A four-part virtual series focused on upstream suicide prevention strategies for Michigan men
• Clinical insights, case conversations, and continuing education credits for health care providers and clinicians
• Topics include depression in men, risk and case assessment strategies, and emerging grief-informed care

Telehealth Settings and Suicide Care

According to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, many individuals who die by suicide are seen by a health care provider in the weeks or months before their death. Telehealth settings can provide safe and effective suicide care, including behavioral health care and primary care.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Fear of adverse events and lawsuits
• Disparities in patient and provider access to computers and high-speed Internet
• Training and technical assistance for providers servicing rural communities can help target the best approaches for addressing suicide care challenges

The Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Approach

The PRiSMM Telehealth Toolkit aligns with the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Approach, consistent with the Zero Suicide approach to providing safer suicide prevention care in health and behavioral health care settings.

Key Elements

• A hub for convenient access and sharing of Michigan-based SP resources
• An online directory with links for providers to access resources supported by standards for telehealth and CDC research-based models

Responding to Crisis

Responding effectively to individuals in crisis includes providing a full continuum of care, such as hotlines, helplines, mobile crisis teams, walk-in crisis clinics, hospital-based psychiatric emergency services, and peer-support programs.

Provider Actions

• Complete a risk assessment
• Evaluate prior suicide attempt(s), current psychiatric conditions, and recent bio-psychosocial stressors
• Provide the right interventions at the right time

Conclusion

The PRiSMM Telemental Health Toolkit is a vital resource for providers aiming to strengthen access and delivery of suicide care, particularly in telehealth settings. By aligning with the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Approach and providing a hub for Michigan-based resources, this toolkit supports the critical goal of reducing suicide deaths and attempts among men ages 25 and older.