>> We need to be very
sensitive to the context
of that particular
community, particularly
if the community isn't ready
to talk about that issue.
And one of the things
that we found
in our suicide prevention
efforts was the concept
of suicide in some communities
was so scary or so stigmatized
or so problematic to have
a conversation about,
that we really had to
look at what were the ways
that we could talk about the
concerns about youth safety,
about youth success,
about well-being in a way
that was appropriate for
any particular community.
[ Music ]
>> Collecting contextual
evidence .
The contextual factors
considered
to be evidence will vary
based on the circumstance
and prevention goals of
a particular community.
Information on contextual
factors is considered
to be contextual evidence when
it is systematically collected,
replicable, observable,
credible, and verifiable.
After narrowing down the
parts of contextual evidence
that are necessary to inform
a specific evidence-based
decision-making process, the
next step is to identify sources
of that information on
relevant context that have been
or can be systematically
gathered and assessed.
Existing sources of data
could include census data
and school records.
New data on context can
be gathered by surveys,
community assessments,
focus groups, or interviews.
>> The types of information
that we're trying to gather
from a particular program
or particular community
reflect what we're looking for,
and that can -- that process can
be a delicate balance or a dance
between what we understand
in the research world
and what communities understand
from their perspective.
[ Pause ]
>> A community needs
assessment was conducted.
The assessment suggests
that suicidal behavior
is a significant problem
in the community and
that lack of access
to mental health services,
a known risk factor
for suicidal behavior,
was a major issue.
In addition, the
assessment revealed
that many agencies
serving youth at risk
for suicide reported both a
rise in demand for services
and a decrease in funding.
The task force also made a
list of the associations,
organizations, and institutions
that might be involved
in this effort.
Additional information on the
local context was collected
from a youth behavior
survey completed
by a youth substance abuse
prevention organization
and hospital emergency
room data.
According to the youth
survey, almost 70 percent
of youth responding to
the survey were extremely
or somewhat concerned
about problems in school
and other stressful life events,
a risk factor for youth suicide.
And hospital data in the local
area indicates a high number
of emergency room visit for
youth suicide attempts compared
to state and national averages.