Part 1 – Recognizing the role of all health care providers to address the issue of suicide

Mental health problems often underlie suicidal thoughts and more than half of the people who die by suicide have not been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Recent statistics suggest that more apparent risk factors aren’t always recognized or addressed by health care providers. In a June 2018 press release the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. said, “Suicide is a leading cause of death for Americans – and it’s a tragedy for families and communities across the country. From individuals and communities to employers and health care professionals, everyone can play a role in efforts to help save lives and reverse this troubling rise in suicide.”

Current markers of a troubling trend

The steady rise of suicide rates in Americans of all ages is concerning. Some important facts include:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Joint Commission-accredited Organizations, suicide rates rose 25.4 percent from 1999 to 2016.^1,2
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all age groups, and increases to eighth (ages 55-64), fourth (ages 35-44) and second (ages 10-34) according to age.
• In 2016, nearly 45,000 Americans died by suicide, and 1.3 million attempted suicide.
• Suicide is one of just three leading causes that are on the rise.

These statistics represent both individuals with known mental health conditions and those without known mental health conditions. However, suicide rates are higher for people who have not been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Awareness and screening

Health care providers need to be aware of and screen for patient risk factors based on human issues, such as:

• relationship problems
• perceived crisis experiences (past, present, anticipated future)
• substance misuse
• physical health problems
• job or financial problems
• criminal or legal issues
• loss of housing

Collaboration for patient benefit

It is the expectation that network practitioners utilize available resources, including referral to and coordination of care with behavioral healthcare providers, to identify and treat members at risk for suicidal ideation and promote improved patient outcomes.

Magellan Healthcare and AmeriHealth provide evidence-based guidelines and resources to facilitate screening and management of suicidal ideation. You can access these resources under the Magellan Behavioral Health Toolkit on the AmeriHealth New Jersey and AmeriHealth Pennsylvania websites.

¹Stone DM, Simon TR, Fowler KA, et al. “Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates — United States, 1999–2016 and Circumstances Contributing to Suicide — 27 States, 2015.” MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018; 67: 617–624. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6722a1.

²Joint Commission-Accredited Organizations. “Detecting and Treating Suicide Ideation in All Settings.” Sentinel Event Alert. 2016., Issue 56.

Magellan Healthcare, Inc. manages mental health and substance abuse benefits for most AmeriHealth members.