Centralus Health is recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month, joining organizations and communities across the country in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging meaningful conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.

Throughout the month, team members are helping bring greater visibility to suicide prevention and the importance of connection. During Suicide Prevention Week, staff across the health system hosted resource tables and shared mental health and suicide prevention resources with patients, visitors, and colleagues.

Centralus Health is a collaborative network uniting Cayuga Health in Ithaca and Arnot Health in Elmira. As part of its focus on strengthening suicide prevention in clinical care, Centralus Health welcomed Dr. Virna Little, a nationally recognized leader in suicide prevention, on September 11 for a Grand Rounds presentation, “Optimizing Suicide Care.”

The presentation focused on evidence-based approaches to suicide risk screening and assessment, strategies for integrating suicide care into clinical workflows, and best practices for improving continuity and follow-up for individuals at risk for suicide.

Our health system has endorsed the Zero Suicide Model, a framework that recognizes suicide prevention as a core responsibility of healthcare. Through this commitment, the health system continues to foster an environment where suicide risk is recognized, concerns are taken seriously and individuals experiencing a mental health crisis receive compassionate, coordinated care.

We have made systemic improvements in suicide care since 2018. We formed a system-wide Zero Suicide Implementation Team, sub-teams for component units, and conducted a Zero Suicide Self-Study and a Workforce Survey. We have implemented core Zero Suicide practices within the Emergency Department, inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, and the Cayuga Integrated Behavioral Health (CIBH) program which embeds behavioral health clinicians within primary care practices.

New York State’s Office of Mental Health recognized our efforts for systemic improvement with a Spotlight Story in “1,700 Too Many: New York State’s Strategy for Suicide Prevention 2026-2030,” announced on September 10 by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Centralus Health is also supporting suicide prevention efforts in the communities it serves, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Greater Ithaca Walk. The September 12 event in Lansing’s Myers Park brought community members together to raise awareness, honor those affected by suicide and support suicide prevention research, education, and advocacy.

National Suicide Prevention Month is an important reminder that suicide prevention is a shared responsibility. Through education, awareness, compassionate care and community partnership, Centralus Health remains committed to helping create communities where people feel seen, supported and connected to help when they need it.

—By Andreia de Lima, MD

Andreia de Lima is Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Centralus Health’s Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital

If you or someone you know feels the need to speak with a mental health professional, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.