2018 Annual Report: UM Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

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What You Helped Us Achieve in 2018

COMBATING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Saving Lives with our UHealth î Žerapeutic Program for Adult Suicide Prevention

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Suicide is a public health crisis with more than 45,000 Americans over age 18 taking their own lives each year. It is the only top 10 cause of death in the U.S. that is rising; between 2000 and 2016, the CDC determined the suicide rate for women 45-64 increased to 9.9 deaths per 100,000 people (up from 6.2) and for men, to 29.1 deaths per 100,000 people (up from 21.3).1

million Americans age 18 and older suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year

Suicide affects men and women of all races, ages, religions and professions, and across all geographic regions. The Department is committed to doing our part to help combat this crisis and with your help is continually implementing new suicide prevention initiatives. Thanks to a generous gift from The Fields Galley Private Foundation, the De-

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partment is launching the UHealth Therapeutic Program for Adult Suicide Prevention, led by clinical psychologist Dr. Ingrid Barrera, who specializes in psycho-oncology and eating disorders, areas where patients often experience suicidal ideation. Using a combination of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based techniques, our expert clinicians will administer a personalized treatment plan to each individual participating in the program. To help address the rising suicide rate among adults, the program is aimed specifically at those age 44 and older. It requires a minimum six-month commitment that includes both individual and group therapy. Each patient receives personalized treatment based on his or her behaviors, and works with the therapist until their goals are achieved. The Department is proud to be able to offer this new program and provide the expertise of our mental health professionals. Private gifts in support of initiatives such as this are crucial to advancing treatments for those struggling with mental illness. The Department is grateful to The Fields Galley Private Foundation for their generosity and dedication to suicide prevention.

million of these people experience suicidal ideation

one person dies by suicide every three hours in Florida Suicide is

fifth leading cause of death for people ages 45-54 in Florida

1. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db309.htm

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