Document Type
Portfolio
Publication Date
Fall 2025
Abstract
Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to reduce the risk of suicide in Columbia County, Georgia by providing preventative psychoeducation, destigmatizing mental healthcare, and looking at how we can improve mental health in the community. Significant Findings: Suicide among pre-adolescents and adolescents in Columbia County, Georgia is a critical mental health concern in our community. Studies show we have a 16 per 100,000 suicide rate in our county, which is larger than both the state and national average (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025), and suicide is the leading cause of death among ages 10-14 in Georgia, which is a major concern in our community (Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, 2022). We also see that the client- to-counselor ratio is 710:1, which is also higher than the state and national average (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025). This causes waitlists for members of the community, especially the youth. The portfolio explores multiple strategies to address suicide prevention, including social-ecological model, which examines risk and protective factors in the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels; prevention theories such as Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the Health Belief Model (HBM), which helps by providing a framework for understanding the factors that influence suicidal behavior and designing effective intervention strategies, and evidence-based programs like Signs of Suicide (SOS), which shows a decrease in self-reported suicide attempts by 64% in people who attended versus those who did not (Schilling et al.,2016, as cited in Suicide Prevention Resource Center, n.d.). The portfolio also considers diversity and ethical factors. The portfolio shows all youth in our community are affected by suicide, while also exploring the additional barriers the LGBTQIA+ population is faced with, like isolation and limited resources in the community. The Trevor Project (2022) showed that 64% of the LGBTQIA+ youth wanted mental healthcare but were unable to receive it. The portfolio explores the mechanisms that can be used to help combat the issues the LGBTQIA+ community faces as well as many ethical considerations. Finally, advocacy is explored by addressing barriers and actions we can implement at the institutional, community, and public policy levels. Overall, the portfolio shows that effective suicide prevention requires a comprehensive, compassionate, and community-wide approach that prioritizes psychoeducation, access to care, and ongoing support for the pre-adolescents and adolescents in our community. Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next Steps: The overall objective is to reduce the suicide rates among pre-adolescents and adolescents in Columbia County, Georgia through prevention, psychoeducation, and advocacy. The first step is to identify and address risk and protective factors using the social-ecological model to evaluate effects on the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. This helps guide interventions that will help build resilience, enhance coping skills, and strengthen protective factors and support among pre-adolescents and adolescents. Additionally, the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and the Health Belief Model (HBM) theories focus on increasing self-efficacy and being more self-aware of the seriousness of what you are going through and how to advocate for yourself by asking for help. The next step is implementing an evidence-based program, school-based prevention program like Signs of Suicide (SOS) in all middle and high schools. Studies show that SOS reduces the self-reported suicide attempt by 64% in students who attended versus those who did not (Schilling et al.,2016, as cited in Suicide Prevention Resource Center, n.d.). Next, schools should provide suicide prevention and mental health awareness training for all staff and educators. This will help with the low school counselor ratio and also help increase the number of people trained who will now know how to identify warning signs or suicide or any other mental health concerns. Lastly, it is important to advocate for public policies that will have a positive impact on the youth in our community. For example, House Bill 736, if passed, would require mandatory training for school staff against bullying and cyberbullying (FastDemocracy, 2025). Providing staff with proper training could help make the students’ school environment safer and help reduce the risk of suicide, suicide attempts, and other mental struggles many students face. These strategies provide a framework for professionals to use to help take preventive action against suicide among pre-adolescents and adolescents in their communities by using psychoeducation, mental health advocacy, and collaboration to create a safer, more supportive community.
