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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Teen Suicide Assessment and Prevention Resources

Dear Provider Community,

In response to our area's growing mental health crisis, Inova Pediatrics and Behavioral Health Services Teams, in collaboration with pediatricians, family physicians, and behavioral health specialists, have developed a pediatric and adolescent behavioral health care model addressing access challenges. The toolkit provides a standard set of resources for pediatric and family medicine practices to make depression and suicide screening easier for providers and assist them in developing treatment plans for their pediatric patients.

The front-line leaders from Inova Primary Care, Inova Kellar Center, Capital Area Pediatrics, and Trusted Doctors contributed to developing the toolkit. We hope you will find the resources listed here helpful in caring for your patients.

Thank you.

Download Printable Handouts

Why the PHQ-9A?

The PHQ-9A is a widely used, all-in-one depression and suicide risk screening. It is validated, has good specificity for ages 12 and older, and is written in more accessible language for teens. It is free, and the scoring process is simple and fast. Our recommendation is to use the PHQ-9A as a universal screen at the annual well visit, beginning at age 12. It is also appropriate for any visit with a clinical concern, or for mental health follow-ups.

Purpose of Toolkit

This toolkit was developed with collaboration among front-line leaders from Inova Primary Care, Inova Kellar Center, Capital Area Pediatrics and Trusted Doctors. The toolkit standardizes and streamlines depression and suicide screening for patients in Northern Virginia pediatric and family medicine practices. It is designed to make depression and suicide screening easier for providers and assist them in developing treatment plans for their pediatric patients.

Handouts

The PDF handouts are included for you to use in the office to guide conversations for both providers and families and to give to families to take home. These resources will be kept up to date by Inova Kellar Center staff. The title page is a link to each resource or handout.