Population Health Institute
Translating Research for Policy and Practice

Hiring

Note: This strategy is based on the outreach and counseling strategies. Therefore, it does not follow the same format and does not include an evidence summary, implementation examples, or implementation resources.

 

Strategy Description

Leadership should hire crisis staff across diverse races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and locations, as well as those with lived experiences related to trauma. This diversity can support culturally humble dialogues and trauma-informed approaches1. Additionally, hiring staff from various trusted messenger groups for firearm and violence prevention messaging can enhance the effectiveness of outreach and intervention efforts2,3.

Action Steps Based on the Literature 

  1. Consider diversity: Hire crisis staff across diverse races, ethnicities, ages, sexual identifications, genders, and locations, as well as those with lived experiences related to trauma. This diversity can support culturally humble dialogues and trauma-informed approaches1.
  2. Consider other trusted messengers: Hire staff from other various trusted messenger groups. For example, law enforcement and veterans are trusted messengers regarding firearm safety and suicide prevention2,3. Healthcare providers and caregivers or parents also can provide a unique perspective4,5,6,7,8.

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References

  1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]. (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-informed Approach.  https://library.samhsa.gov/product/samhsas-concept-trauma-and-guidance-trauma-informed-approach/sma14-4884
  2. Allchin, A., Chaplin, V., & Horwitz, J. (2019). Limiting access to lethal means: applying the social ecological model for firearm suicide prevention. Injury Prevention: Journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention, 25(Suppl 1), i44–i48. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2018-042809
  3. Suicide Prevention Research Center. (2024). Public Perceptions of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Survey Results. Retrieved from https://suicidepreventionnow.org/documents/executive-summary-2024.pdf
  4. Choi, N. G., DiNitto, D. M., & Marti, C. N. (2017). Youth firearm suicide: Precipitating/risk factors and gun access. Children and Youth Services Review, 83, 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.022
  5. Arango, A., Brent, D., Grupp-Phelan, J., Barney, B. J., Spirito, A., Mroczkowski, M. M., Shenoi, R., Mahabee-Gittens, M., Casper, T. C., King, C., & Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) (2024). Social connectedness and adolescent suicide risk. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 65(6), 785–797. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13908
  6. National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Lethal Means Stakeholder Group. (2020). Lethal Means & Suicide Prevention: A Guide for Community & Industry Leaders. Washington, DC: Education Development Center
  7. Ahmedani, B. K., Simon, G. E., Stewart, C., Beck, A., Waitzfelder, B. E., Rossom, R., Lynch, F., Owen-Smith, A., Hunkeler, E. M., Whiteside, U., Operskalski, B. H., Coffey, M. J., & Solberg, L. I. (2014). Health care contacts in the year before suicide death. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 29(6), 870–877. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-014-2767-3
  8. Stene-Larsen K., & Reneflot A. (2017). Contact with primary and mental health care prior to suicide: A systematic review of the literature from 2000 to 2017. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 47(1):9-17. doi:1177/1403494817746274

Related Strategies (view evidence summaries and related implementation examples and resources here)

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