CNSA Resolution 2018 - NSNA House of Delegates

TOPIC: In Support of Increasing Awareness of Suicide Incidence and Prevention Strategies for Children and
Adolescents

SUBMITTED BY: California Nursing Students’ Association

AUTHORS: Jenelle Hunter, Andrew Mossett, Stephanie Lichtwardt, Conrad DelMundo, Evan Parker, Wendy
Fanucchi, Kenzie Grinsell, and Daniel Estep

WHEREAS, in the United States, the incidence of suicide in children and adolescents is increasing, and recent data
has shown suicide to be the second leading cause of death in ages 10-24, and the sixth leading cause of
death for children aged five to 12 (Centers for Disease Control, 2015); and
WHEREAS, a national longitudinal study showed that of youth that died by suicide, over 80% had seen a health care
provider in the year prior to their death (Sheftall et al., 2016); and
WHEREAS, nurses that have contact with children with suicidal ideations in school, acute, and outpatient settings
have an opportunity for intervention if warning signs are known and recognized. When screening tools
are utilized, they have been shown to have a 4-fold increase in the detection of suicidal ideation.
Morbidity and mortality can be reduced through early intervention, screening, and treatment (Horowitz,
2014; Gray & Dihigo, 2015); and
WHEREAS, while the causes and warning signs of suicidal ideation for each age group are different,
developmentally appropriate screening tools should be used to ensure accuracy of the results by
addressing specific social and behavioral challenges shown to be risk factors for that age group (Sheftall
et al., 2016); and
WHEREAS, for identification of potential warning signs and risk factors, nurses across all healthcare settings need to
initiate assessments and interventions for suicide prevention (Patterson, 2016); and
WHEREAS, due to the lack of adoption of a consistent set of standards for training nurses in suicide assessment, a
gap exists in suicide-specific intervention training among institutes for higher education in nursing
(Bolster et al., 2015); and
WHEREAS, advanced planning and education creates an effective, comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and
interdisciplinary method to assessing suicide risk through the combined use of developmentally
appropriate screening tools, clinical knowledge and judgement. (Gray & Dihigo, 2015; Patterson, 2016);
therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) help to increase awareness among nursing

students about the growing problem of suicide in children and adolescents, as well as suicide risk

screening and assessment tools; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the NSNA advocate for the increased use of risk screening and assessment tools in all healthcare

settings to assist in identifying children and adolescents at risk or suffering from suicidal ideations; and

be it further
RESOLVED, that the NSNA increase awareness, application, and advocacy regarding the incidence of suicide and the

use of risk screening and assessment tools through articles in Imprint, and informational and educational

breakout sessions at the Annual Convention, if feasible; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the NSNA send a copy of this resolution to the American Nurses’ Association, American Psychiatric

Nurses Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Academy of Nursing,

the National League for Nursing, the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, National

Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services Administration, American Organization of Nurse Executives, and all others

deemed appropriate by the NSNA Board of Directors.