North Texas health leaders are celebrating a new federal grant that will strengthen suicide‑prevention efforts across the region’s hospitals and physician practices. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced on Nov. 11 that Texas Health Resources has been awarded up to $1.5 million to expand the evidence‑based Zero Suicide framework.
Why the grant matters
Only one‑third of the roughly 83 % of people who die by suicide within a year of seeing a health‑care provider actually receive mental‑health services. Texas Health’s grant will help close that gap by integrating behavioral‑health screening into routine patient visits, providing staff training, and improving follow‑up care for those identified at risk.
Zero Suicide: a proven approach
Zero Suicide is a nationally recognized set of tactics that includes systematic risk screening, safety planning, and coordinated treatment pathways. Texas Health has already screened for suicide risk in about five million patient encounters since 2019, laying a solid foundation for a more comprehensive rollout.
“Suicide prevention is a critical component of caring for the whole person,” said Scott Domingue, chief operating and nursing officer of Texas Health Behavioral Health. “This grant enables us to strengthen the systems, training and support structures that help connect people with the care they need when they are at their most vulnerable.”
Phased implementation across the network
The five‑year plan will roll out in three phases. The first phase targets counties with statistically higher suicide risk, ensuring resources go where they are needed most. The second phase will bring the program to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, and the third phase will extend it to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton.
What the funding will support
- Evaluation of current suicide‑prevention practices to identify gaps.
- Comprehensive training for clinical and non‑clinical staff on the Zero Suicide model.
- Enhanced treatment protocols and follow‑up care for patients identified as at risk.
- Data collection and reporting to track outcomes and refine the approach over time.
Ken Jones, behavioral health clinical officer for Texas Health, emphasized that the early work “laid a strong foundation with expanded suicide‑risk screening across the organization, but it also made clear that more could be done to strengthen prevention efforts and ensure every person at risk receives the support they need.”
Community impact
By embedding mental‑health resources into everyday medical care, the grant aims to reach patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Families and faith communities in North Texas can look forward to more timely interventions, potentially saving lives and easing the emotional burden on loved ones.
The partnership between Texas Health Resources and SAMHSA reflects a broader national commitment to address suicide as a public‑health crisis. With federal support and local dedication, North Texas is poised to become a model for other regions seeking to protect their most vulnerable citizens.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Denton — read the source article.
