September 20, 2026
At McCall Behavioral Health Network, suicide prevention is more than a clinical responsibility. It is an organization-wide commitment to providing safer, more compassionate care for every person who comes through our doors.
Since December 2022, McCall has been implementing the Zero Suicide framework across our organization. Through this work, our Zero Suicide Implementation Team brings together leadership and staff from across the agency to strengthen our practices, support our workforce, implement new initiatives, and continually identify ways we can provide safer and more effective suicide care.
The Zero Suicide framework is built on the belief that suicide deaths within healthcare and behavioral healthcare systems are preventable. Zero Suicide challenges organizations to continually examine and improve the systems of care that support people who may be at risk.
For McCall, this means using the framework’s seven key elements to guide our approach to suicide prevention.
What are the Seven Elements of Zero Suicide?
- Lead: Creating an organizational culture in which suicide prevention is a shared responsibility, supported by leadership and embraced across McCall.
- Train: Ensuring our workforce has the knowledge, skills, confidence, and compassion needed to recognize suicide risk and respond appropriately.
- Identify: Using evidence-based screening and assessment practices to recognize suicide risk and help ensure people receive the support they need.
- Engage: Building collaborative and compassionate pathways to care while working with individuals to support their safety and continued connection to services.
- Treat: Providing evidence-based care and interventions for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
- Transition: Supporting people during changes in care through warm handoffs, strong communication, and continued connection to appropriate services.
- Improve: Continually evaluating our practices, learning from our experiences, and identifying opportunities to make suicide care safer and more effective.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Safer Care
Zero Suicide is not a destination or a one-time initiative. It is an ongoing commitment to making care safer for the people and communities we serve.
At McCall, that commitment is reflected in how we support our staff, strengthen our systems, review our practices, and continue learning and improving. Above all, it means recognizing the trust people place in us when they seek care.
Suicide prevention is not the responsibility of one person, one department, or one program. It is a shared commitment to providing the safest, most compassionate care possible to every person who turns to McCall for support.
Want to Learn More About Zero Suicide?
To learn more about the McCall Behavioral Health Network’s Zero Suicide initiative, contact Andrew Lyon, Director of Prevention and Family Services, at andrew.lyon@mccallbhn.org.
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