View Point Health has received a Garrett Lee Smith grant in partnership with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The grant furthers the agency vision of building healthy lives and healthy families through high quality comprehensive care.

The goal of the grant project is to work in partnership with county community organizations, schools and health care agencies to make Newton County a “Zero Suicide” county. Prevention goals include developing, using and monitoring programs that promote wellness and prevent suicide related behaviors; training community and clinical service providers on suicide prevention; promoting suicide prevention as a core component of health care services; promoting and applying effective clinical and professional practices for assessing and treating youth identified as at risk for suicidal behaviors; providing care and support to individuals affected by suicide deaths; and promoting healing and community strategies to help prevent further suicides.

“Georgia Suicide Safer Communities for Youth” project focuses on youth ages 10 to 24 living in Newton, Bartow and Oconee counties, where youth suicide death rates higher than the national average. The grant focus will include African American youth, youth who have attempted suicide, and family members of youth who have been identified with suicidal tendencies or a suicide attempt. Community assessments in each county will help identify county specific populations of focus.

The suicide prevention project is led by View Point Health in Newton County. A Suicide Prevention Supervisor will oversee continuity of care efforts for identified youth, including promoting access to suicide specific care for young people, and a Family Support Specialist, who will support parents with youth who have shown suicidal behaviors.