The ASQ Suicide Screening Tool is an evidence-based 4/5-question suicide risk screening tool for ages 10-24. The tool has been used in emergency rooms and pediatric hospitals in the US.
Locally, Dr. Ted Abernathy has been using this tool in his pediatric practice on wellness visits for ages 12 and up.
Parents unaware their child was thinking of suicide were able to get their child the care they needed before thoughts became acts. As president of Beacon Tree Foundation and a parent who lost a child to suicide, I’ve made it a goal to work with this team to help implement the ASQ tool into pediatric, family care and primary care practices in Virginia.
The goal of this meeting was to meet the entire ASQ team at NIMH and share ideas.
We have outlines of implementation plans. We have the players. Some of us in the picture have invested hundreds of hours free.
What we are missing is funding. We need about $200k to get this going. If you know of anyone or any company who would want to support this initiative, contact me.
- There are a lot of small non-profit organizations that have been started as the result of a child or loved one’s death. What if all these organizations pooled their funds and resources to make the ASQ demonstration (aka pilot) happen in Richmond, Virginia with a plan to go statewide once we have the model perfected?
- Donor supported. Is there a corporation out there or donor interested in supporting suicide screening for 10-24 year olds?
- Grant funding. Start with a community grant (Beacon Tree has hired a grant writer and we are investigating these grants.)
So thankful for those 29 lives!
Me, too Leigh!