The MHA announced the winner of its 2025 Advancing Safe Care Award April 28, honoring Corewell Health’s suicide care and prevention team. The award was announced during the MHA Keystone Center Safety & Quality Symposium.
The MHA Advancing Safe Care Award honors healthcare teams within MHA-member hospitals that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to providing quality care, show evidence of an improved safety culture and demonstrate transparency in their efforts to improve healthcare.
Corewell Health’s behavioral health department launched the Suicide Care & Prevention Team (SPCT) to reduce patient deaths by suicide through increased screening, risk assessment and connectivity with appropriate interventions and services.
The team’s efforts have led to a reduction in suicide deaths – lower than state and national averages. While deaths by suicide were down by 0.89% in Michigan and by 2.53% nationally between 2017 and 2020, Corewell Health in West Michigan saw a 21.64% decrease. When suicide rates increased post-pandemic, deaths in Michigan and nationally were up 5.01% and 4.63% respectively from 2017 to 2023. However, Corewell Health in West Michigan maintained a slight decrease of 0.75%.
“We are so grateful for this recognition for our efforts to decrease suicide deaths,” said Natalia Szczygiel, vice president of behavioral health operations, Corewell Health. “Corewell Health in West Michigan currently administers over 1.2 million suicide screenings, 12,500 safety plans and 10,800 lethal means reduction conversations annually. We are here to care for our patients mind and body.”
The group integrated suicide prevention measures into all aspects of care throughout the system with a focus on accessible training and resources for staff interacting with patients. The SPCT spearheaded the integration of suicide risk assessments into the organization’s electronic health records system and facilitated efforts for improved suicide care workflows within the inpatient, emergency room, primary care and pediatric care settings.
Leaders across the system monitor the organization’s prevention efforts via the SPCT’s suicide prevention dashboard, which tracks screenings, assessments and support services offered.
Members may access further details about the Corewell Health Suicide Care and Prevention Team online.