Maine center recognized for suicide prevention work

Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC) recently received positive marks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its leadership in suicide prevention. AMHC is one of several organizations in five states that received a three‐year grant to focus on suicide prevention efforts. Because one suicide is one too many, the initiative is called “Zero Suicide,” The County reported Feb. 1. According to Michelle Ferris, director of emergency services, AMHC has implemented a series of questions that its direct care staff are now required to ask clients. The questions have assisted in several ways: Staff are more intentional about the issue of suicide among those individuals AMHC serves. The questions asked help reduce the stigma associated with suicide. Staff are more comfortable assessing for risk. AMHC is able to collect data specific to suicide and learn from that data to help its clientele. AMHC has 26 service sites and 325 employees located across Aroostook, Washington and Hancock counties providing mental health, substance use, crisis and sexual assault services.