Maine Receives 500,000 Dolars Grant To Support Youth Suicide Prevention Efforts

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 30 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program (MYSPP) recently learned that it has been selected to receive a $500,000 grant to enhance its efforts in high schools across the state.

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded 18 grants totaling almost $27 million over three years. Awards ranged form $317,000 to $500,000. This is the second Garret Lee Smith SAMHSA youth suicide prevention award received by MSYPP.

"Each year, more children and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, and chronic lung diseases combined," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. "These new grants will help states build on and strengthen established youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies."

The title for the new project is Caring About Lives in Maine (CAL ME). Ten high schools will be selected to help from the Department of Education, MSYPP through Medical Care Development implement this project. The MYSPP wants to fund one high school in every public health district throughout the state. Awards to high schools will be announced November 10, 2008.

"This is an exciting project and we're thankful that SAMHSA continues to support Maine's work in youth suicide prevention," said Cheryl DiCara, Director of the Maine Injury Prevention Program and Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program.

The MYSPP is a collaborative initiative among the agencies of the Maine Children's Cabinet, representing Commissioners from the Departments of Health and Human Services; Education; Corrections; Labor; and Public Safety.

More information on the CAL ME Project and suicide prevention information can be found on the MYSPP website at http://www.mainesuicideprevention.org.

Maine Department of Health and Human Services

• Additional
• References
• Citations