Safer Storage Safer Homes: Investigating the Use of Secure Storage Devices in the Inpatient Behavioral Health Population
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Summary
Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death for American youth. Strikingly, firearm suicide among adolescents is growing faster than other groups. Lethal means counseling is standard of care, however, infrequently occurs despite pediatricians recognizing the importance. Lack of time, topic discomfort, and inadequate resources for families are commonly reported barriers to counseling. By addressing these factors, we can improve counseling with the ultimate goal of increasing safe storage and reducing firearm injuries in youth. Children admitted in acute mental health crises while awaiting psychiatric hospital placement are a population at greater risk of suicide. We plan to implement a pilot intervention to offer secure storage counseling and storage device distribution to families of behavioral health patients who indicate firearm ownership on initial screening. The goal of this project is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of firearm secure storage counseling and device provision in the inpatient setting.
Description
The Behavioral Health service at Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt (MCJCHV) provides specialized care for children and adolescents offering settings for patients to feel safe and supported while awaiting inpatient psychiatric care. Patients admitted to this team include children and adolescents with behavioral and psychological health challenges, including anxiety, depression, emotional distress, mood or personality disorders and many other mental health issues placing them at increased risk from harm from lethal means (sharps, medications, and firearms). Reducing immediate ac…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Guardian of child ages 0-18 years old who is admitted to and receiving care on the MCJCHV Behavioral Health Team 2. Guardian age \> or = 18 years 3. Guardian with phone access to receive calls or email access to receive study information electronically 4. English or Spanish-speaking guardian 5. Guardian self-identifies as firearm owner Exclusion Criteria: 1. Guardian of children outside the specified age range 2. Guardian speaks a language that is not English or Spanish 3. Lack of telephone or email contact 4. Guardian age is outside of the specific age range 5. Guard…
Interventions
- BehavioralGuardians receiving counseling + lock
Guardians of patients admitted to the Pediatric Hospital Medicine behavioral health team will be provided a brief lethal means educational session and offered up to 3 secure storage devices of their choosing (lock box and or cable locks)
Location
- Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at VanderbiltNashville, Tennessee