PENNSYLVANIA — The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced an update to the Columbia Protocol Mobile App. The app, which is designed for use by anyone, not just mental health professionals, features a series of questions that help identify those most at risk for suicide.
As we navigate the holiday season and embark on a new year, a period often fraught with emotional highs and lows, Pennsylvania’s DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh underscores the importance of these readily available resources. The Columbia Protocol Mobile App utilizes the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the most evidence-based tool to assess suicide risk severity.
The app asks six straightforward questions about an individual’s mental health. Based on the responses, it calculates a risk level—Low, Moderate, or High—and connects users to local resources. Each risk category comes with recommended support resources and next steps, always suggesting a connection with a helping resource.
This initiative is the result of a collaboration between The Columbia Lighthouse Project, PS Solutions, DHS, and statewide partners at the Blair County Department of Social Services, Healthy Blair County Coalition, and members of the Garett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Team.
Suicide statistics in Pennsylvania paint a grim picture, with 14 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 attributed to suicide, ranking the state 38th in the country for suicide mortality. Nationally, rates of suicide increased by 4 percent from 2020 to 2021, and it remains the third-leading cause of death in age groups 10-24 and 25-34.
To combat these troubling trends, the Shapiro Administration is making significant investments in mental health supports. The 2023-2024 bipartisan budget includes $20 million to increase funding for counties to provide critical mental health services. An additional $100 million has been allocated to address the growing youth mental health crisis by providing school-based mental health counselors and resources for students.
Pennsylvania’s efforts go beyond the state budget. The state continues to support the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a service that connects individuals to trained, compassionate crisis response counselors 24/7 at no cost. State agencies also continue their collaborative work through Pennsylvania’s Suicide Prevention Task Force, striving to advance the goals of Pennsylvania’s suicide prevention plan.
The Columbia Protocol Mobile App, available for Android and iPhone, is a significant tool in this ongoing battle against suicide. By making this app more user-friendly and accessible, Pennsylvania aims to takie a proactive step towards preventing suicide and ensuring that those in need can easily connect with the help they need.
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