At Seattle Children’s, we are committed to reducing youth suicide and have an aspirational goal of zero suicides for youth in our care. The Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) team oversees Seattle Children's implementation of the Zero Suicide (ZS) framework, which is a comprehensive guide for suicide prevention within healthcare systems.

The mission of the Suicide Prevention Program is to save lives by ensuring that Seattle Children’s provides compassionate, safe, and effective care for children and adolescents experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. We will fulfill this mission by:

• • Providing expert training and consultation to the Seattle Children’s workforce.
  • Listening to and understanding the lived experience of individuals and families impacted by suicide.
  • Improving Seattle Children’s policies and systems through continuous quality improvement in order to create a culture where suicide is viewed as preventable and suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be discussed and responded to with empathic and effective care.
  • Developing and implementing evidence-based practices across the continuum of suicide care, from identification to recovery.

We seek to understand the cultural contexts and structural factors that shape the experiences of the families with whom we work, in order to provide meaningful and responsive care.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24. In this age group, death by suicide is more common than death from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and lung disease combined. Research shows that for youth ages 0-19, 77% of those who die by suicide had healthcare contact in the last year, with 38% within a month prior.

Suicide rates in the US vary by age, geography, sex, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity, with the highest rates being among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Additionally, suicide risk is higher among people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Nearly 1 in 4 high school students identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual reported attempting suicide within the last year. The SPP approaches suicide prevention through the lens of Antiracism and Intersectionality, acknowledging that structural factors including poverty, violence, and racism contribute to marginalized individuals increased risk for suicide. We continuously examine how our program’s actions may impact members of marginalized groups, taking steps to prevent harm and promote health and safety for all youth and families.

The Seattle Children’s Hospital Suicide Prevention Program offers MSW students a dynamic and meaningful practicum experience focused on supporting youth at risk for suicide and their families. Practicum students will gain hands-on clinical training in suicide risk assessment, safety planning, brief therapeutic interventions, and family-centered care. Under the supervision of experienced mental health clinicians, students will work as part of an interdisciplinary team, contribute to evidence-informed care planning, and participate in program development efforts aimed at improving suicide prevention practices in pediatric healthcare. This placement offers rich opportunities to develop advanced clinical skills, enhance crisis intervention abilities, and apply trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

As part of the practicum, students will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a parent-focused support and education group centered on lethal means restriction — a critical component of youth suicide prevention. This project involves helping design materials and group content that equip parents with practical strategies to reduce access to firearms, medications, and other potential hazards, while fostering open communication and safety planning within the family. This initiative allows students to engage in both program development and family-centered prevention work.

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Email cover letter and resume to suicidepreventionprogram@seattlechildrens.org