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Guide to Developing and Revising Suicide Prevention Protocols for Youth in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System

Youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system, especially those in residential facilities, have higher rates of suicide than their non-system-involved peers ... Suicide prevention efforts by this system should begin at the initial point of entry and be coordinated to protect youth at every step along the way ... This report addresses performance-based standards for juvenile correction and detention facilities and describes a comprehensive suicide prevention program for juvenile facilities (p. 1). 

The components that comprise this program need to include: 

  • training; 
  • identification, 
  • referral, and evaluation; 
  • communication; 
  • housing (safe environment); 
  • levels of observation, follow-up, and treatment planning; 
  • intervention (emergency response); 
  • reporting and notification; 
  • and mortality-morbidity review.