Suicide prevention strategy propelled a significant reduction
in suicide attempts among adult members
Goal inspired by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's
Project 2025 initiative
WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 22,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, CVS Health® (NYSE:
CVS) announced its milestone progress against the goal set last
year of reducing Aetna member suicide attempts 20% by 2025.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between
the ages of 10 and 34. It does not have to be. Nearly all people
(90%) who die by suicide have an underlying, and potentially
treatable, mental health condition.
In 2017, Aetna, a CVS Health company, initiated its support for
the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's (AFSP) goal to
reduce the suicide rate 20% by the year 2025, as part of AFSP's
Project 2025 initiative. Inspired by this initiative, CVS Health
launched its own goal to reduce suicide attempts 20% among Aetna
members by the year 2025:
- Overall trend: CVS Health has seen a 15.7% reduction in
suicide attempts amongst Aetna members through March 2022 compared to 2019 baselines.
- Aetna members ages 18+: 17.5% decrease in suicide
attempts in 2021 and a 34.1% decrease through March 2022 compared to the same 2019
baselines.
- Aetna members ages 13-17: 43% increase in suicide
attempts in 2021 and 32% increase through March 2022 compared to the same 2019
baselines.
While CVS Health has made significant progress in adult Aetna
members (age 18+), improvement is still needed amongst adolescents
(age 13-17). Earlier this year, three of the nation's top pediatric
healthcare organizations declared a National State of Emergency in
children's mental health, demonstrating the immediate need to
address youth mental health.
"Our members are not immune to the national suicide crisis
reported by the CDC. Though we are on track lowering suicide
attempts in adults, our goal will not be reached until we can say
the same for adolescents," said Sree
Chaguturu, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical
Officer, CVS Health. "We are doubling down on efforts to prevent
suicide in teens by identifying those most at-risk and in need of
intervention, reaching out to those discharged from the ER after a
suicide attempt with resources and supporting parents and loved
ones in prioritizing the mental health of their kids."
Reducing suicide among Aetna
members
To achieve its goal, CVS Health is focused on expanded resources
and outreach to adolescents, including:
- Aetna's Adolescent Outreach Program uses self-harm risk
modeling to proactively support families with children at the
highest risk of suicide attempt.
- Aetna's partnership with Vita Health and Oui
Therapeutics provides access to Youth Nominated Support Teams
and clinical outpatient programs with evidence-based therapies and
interventions.
- Aetna's Caring Contacts program reaches out to
adolescent members with comfort items after they are discharged
from inpatient or emergency department care for suicide ideation or
attempts to let them know they are valued and that support is
available to them.
Aetna also continues to work directly with health care providers
to ensure they have the education and resources to identify and
treat adolescents and young adults at risk of suicide.
"We are implementing evidence-based therapies and outreach
programs to prevent suicidal ideation before it starts and get
adolescents the clinical care they need when they are at risk,"
said Cara McNulty, President,
Behavioral Health and Mental Well-being, CVS Health. "Every suicide
attempt prevented, life saved, and mental health resource sought is
an important step to reducing death by suicide in the United States."
For more details on CVS Health's suicide prevention efforts,
please visit CVSHealth.com here.
About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering
care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the
health of communities across America through our local presence,
digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including
more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse
practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them
with their health – whether that's managing chronic diseases,
staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable
health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help
people navigate the health care system – and their personal health
care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted
partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all
with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social
media.
About Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 34 million
people with information and resources to help them make better
informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad
range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health
insurance products and related services, including medical,
pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical
management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services,
workers' compensation administrative services and health
information technology products and services. Aetna's customers
include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time
and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers,
governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and
expatriates. For more information, visit www.aetna.com and
explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world.
Media contacts
Alex
Kepnes
kepnesa@aetna.com
Doug Feingold
feingoldd@cvshealth.com
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SOURCE CVS Health