Mission
The mission of the STAR-Center is to provide evidence-based youth suicide prevention through the specialized assessment and treatment of children and adolescents suffering from depression, anxiety, and suicidality.
For patients
- Conduct psychiatric evaluation and suicide risk assessment of at-risk youth.
- Provide patients with specially designed individual treatment consisting of cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy that may include problem-solving, interpersonal communication, emotional regulation, and distress-tolerance skills.
- Deliver 9 hours of treatment per week through the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for teens requiring higher levels of care.
- Partner with local colleges and universities to provide rapid and comprehensive assessment and treatment for depressed, anxious, and suicidal college students.
For families and communities
- Educate about early identification and prevention strategies.
- Provide psychoeducation about depression to the family to help enhance their understanding of the adolescent’s current symptoms including suicidality.
- Collaborate with schools as needed when faced with issues related to adolescent suicide and tragic loss.
- Conduct bereavement groups for adults who have lost a loved one to death by suicide.
For the future
- Offer training and education opportunities for Master’s and Doctoral students and psychiatric residents.
- Disseminate information and research findings to colleagues via an annual conference.
- Build connections and partnerships with fellow organizations on mental health initiatives.