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Full Description: As identified in Arizona’s 2021 MCH Needs Assessment, in 2019 the suicide mortality rate was 5.0 deaths per 100,000 for children ages 10-17 years. American Indian/Alaska Native children were disproportionately affected by suicides; with American Indian/Alaska Native children comprising 5% of the total population but 18% of adolescent suicides. The leading causes of suicide deaths among children ages 10 to 17 were strangulation, firearm injury and poisoning. Some identified risk factors to the 2019 suicides were family discord, mental health discord, abuse/neglect history and bullying. Furthermore, adolescent suicide and bullying have been identified as indicators that were poorer in Arizona than the national counterparts, and therefore present ongoing targets for intervention to improve health outcomes. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic further intensified the need to address mental health among youth as typical routines, interaction with friends, and involvement in school activities came to a screeching halt leaving youth isolated, filled with anxiety, and in some cases increases in weight gain.
The Office of Women’s Health’s (OWH) MCH priority for adolescents is to enhance equitable and optimal initiatives that positively impact the emotional, physical and social wellbeing of adolescents reporting on activities conducted in NPM #9 Bullying and NPM #10 Adolescent Well Visits. By applying the information garnered through the MCH needs assessment, and use of various adolescent focused funding and programming, the OWH at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has taken on a concerted effort to improve mental health and reduce suicide rates among young people. The Office of Women’s Health began integrating mental health approaches into existing adolescent health initiatives including a bullying prevention campaign incorporating a “be kind” message that focuses on mental health, wellness and mutual respect of peers; certifying and incentivizing County level Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program educators to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid in their communities; partnering with the Department of Education, AHCCCS (state’s Medicaid agency), and rural partners in a mental health CoIIN initiative; and addressing mental health and suicide through the work of youth councils. Additionally, the Office engages community stakeholders to provide feedback and guidance for priority setting and planning.
Through a PowerPoint presentation, participants will be provided with an overview of adolescent mental health efforts being implemented by the ADHS OWH and how they are being incorporated into existing programming through evidence-based practice and interprofessional collaboration in the MCH field. Participants will complete a planning worksheet to identify programming in their states that could be expanded to incorporate youth mental health messaging and key partners to engage in the effort.
Abbreviated Description: Arizona’s MCH priority for adolescents is to enhance equitable and optimal initiatives that positively impact the emotional, physical and social wellbeing of adolescents-NPM9 Bullying and NPM10 Adolescent Well Visits. Arizona has taken on a concerted effort to improve youth mental health and reduce suicide rates. Through a presentation, participants will learn how Arizona applied MCH needs assessment data and implemented mental health messaging into existing programming through evidence- based practice and interprofessional collaboration in the MCH field. Participants will complete a planning tool to identify key partners and programming in their states that can be expanded to incorporate mental health messaging for youth.
