On average, about 130 Americans die by suicide every daySince the onset of COVID-19, there has been concern that stressors caused by the pandemic, such as social isolation, economic challenges, depression, and limited access to health care, increase suicidal behavior.Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that overall suicide rate Declining during COVID-19, rates rose among young adults and people of color, the latter of which has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Nonetheless, suicide remains a concern for all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, so payers have an opportunity to transform their approach to suicide prevention through provider and community partnerships.

Nearly 50 percent of those who died by suicide saw a primary care provider in the past 30 days, and more than 80 percent saw a behavioral health professional or primary care provider in the year before death.However, in a Association of Underserved Clinicians (ACU), “One in five providers have never been trained on how to recognize the warning signs that a patient may be at higher risk of suicide, and 32% of providers are not trained to treat patients with suicidal thoughts or behaviors lack of confidence in their abilities.”

Because suicide is associated with several risk factors and variables that contribute to a person’s level of distress, payers and providers must collaborate to address physical, psychological, socioeconomic, and other influencing factors. Seventy percent of behavioral health problems Receive treatment in a primary care office, so these providers must have the tools to identify, treat, and refer members to specialty care as needed. With this in mind, Centene has partnered with ACU to develop and deliver suicide prevention courses on suicide risk assessment and intervention to more than 1,700 primary care providers and staff in 16 states.

Payers have access to vast amounts of data and can conduct analysis to identify those at highest risk for suicide, allowing providers to intervene earlier and provide appropriate care or referrals. By combining data with innovative technologies, payers and providers can collaborate to identify those at risk to help prevent suicide attempts and behaviors. Using machine learning, we can create and implement models that accurately identify individual risk levels, allowing suppliers to intervene effectively. We combined data science, the clinical expertise of psychiatrists and psychologists, and business intelligence to create an analytical model that can identify members with the highest suicide risk. Our clinically trained case managers can then proactively coordinate needed services for those at risk, which not only saves lives, but also reduces hospitalizations, avoidable emergency room visits, and overall medical and behavioral health costs.

In addition to prevention and identification, providers can help those who attempt suicide through interventions such as clinical treatment and outreach. Research shows that by providing follow-up care and other support, National suicide rate could drop by 20%. From education and digital/teletherapy to higher levels of care management, clinical teams can tailor care to the individual to ensure compassionate support. Payers and providers can also take advantage of tools and resources, such as communication from care management teams and support for families of suicidal individuals during care transitions.

Social workers, in particular, are often on the front lines and thus play a key role in suicide prevention, yet many report that they are unprepared and uncomfortable. Evidence-based training can help social workers identify signs of distress and engage members in needed care. Care plans must also be culturally sensitive and focused on identifying and addressing social determinants of health. Social workers have a deep understanding of these unique challenges. Social isolation, financial stress, unemployment, and other SDOH may be risk factors for suicide. In addition, adverse childhood experiences, such as violence, neglect, and substance use, increase suicide risk. Addressing these complex issues will improve the effectiveness of outreach and interventions.

Payers and providers can play a key role in reducing unnecessary loss of life and impact on family, friends and community members. By improving access to high-quality personalized suicide prevention care, partnering with social service agencies and organizations, and using advanced technology to better identify those at risk, we can collectively improve the quality of life for those most suffering.