Hegira Health, Inc.

Hegira Health is a 50-year leader in behavioral healthcare in Wayne County and one of Michigan's largest non-profit, freestanding, integrated behavioral healthcare organizations. We offer quality, individualized and rapidly accessible integrated treatment and prevention services. Hegira means JOURNEY, and we provide support along the journey of life. We believe life's pleasures and achievements are maximized after achieving WELLNESS FIRST. 

A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), accredited by the Joint Commission and the American Association of Suicidology, our comprehensive service array is licensed and certified by MDHHS and staffed by professionals trained in the latest evidence-based practices. Leadership achievements include executive committee roles in significant local, state and national associations, memberships on statewide workgroups, healthcare honors, recognition from NAMI-MI, and participation in numerous learning and leadership communities. As a Zero Suicide Organization, we are leaders in bringing SUICIDE PREVENTION to our communities through education, training and treatment. 

As the leader in Wayne County's adult CRISIS SERVICES, we partner with local law enforcement to meet community needs. Our Mobile Crisis Co-Response and Rapid Response Teams respond alongside police officers to provide community-based crisis intervention for those with behavioral health needs.  Crisis teams co-respond 24/7, providing intervention and stabilization at the person's home or elsewhere, linking them to ongoing mental health support and related substance use disorder needs. These programs help produce better outcomes by providing a more appropriate response for people in crisis. 

It's a priority to support our clients and those on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand the capacity to provide real-time support to persons experiencing trauma is critical. Through our Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), our 24/7 on-site, mobile and telehealth crisis services and virtual training support, we are mitigating the impact, accelerating the recovery process, and continuously assessing our services to meet the community's needs.

There are over 800,000 deaths globally due to suicide, and for every person who dies by way of suicide, at least 135 people are impacted through grief, which equates to over 108 million people worldwide.  2018 data shows that more than 48,000 people suicided in the U.S. and over 1,500 in Michigan.  In Wayne County, there were 225 deaths by way of suicide.  The numbers continue to climb, and with COVID-19, the numbers are expected to grow even more.

 There are many myths associated with suicide. HERE are two:

1.  Suicide is inevitable—once someone says they are suicidal; you can't stop them.  The reality is that talking about suicide helps bring relief to the person, allowing them to talk more about it and feel less anxiety.
2.  Another myth is that only experts can prevent suicide.  NOT TRUE. Suicide prevention is everyone's business, and everyone can help prevent suicide.  We have come to understand that we cannot do this alone.  The more people know the more they can help.  

Last year, Hegira Health received close to $800,000 from a one-time-only SAMHSA Grant to address gaps in service with its Pathways for Suicide Prevention Program. Of the fifty national awards, Hegira Health was the ONLY provider in Michigan to receive this funding. The three primary areas of the grant are CLINICAL, TRAINING, and OUTREACH. 

Clinical services include Mobile Crisis Stabilization teams who work with suicide-attempt survivors by engaging with them while they are in the hospital, being involved in the discharge process, and providing evidence-based treatment for suicide prevention. We also work closely with First Step, a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault organization, to help with a suicide crisis.

 The training components include a trainer-of-trainers approach. People will be trained to be Master Trainers in QPR-Question, Persuade, Refer, suicide-prevention training. QPR is a three-step evidence-based practice designed to help people in the community become gatekeepers and help people who are suicidal get the help they need quickly.  As Master Trainers, we can train individuals to become trainers.  The more trainers we have in the community teaching others in QPR, the more lives we can save.

The suicide prevention program's outreach component includes working with community providers, organizations, and agencies to provide training, community support, education, and awareness programs.  Hegira Health will also be hosting a conference next year on suicide pre- and postvention and will soon begin hosting support groups for attempt survivors. 

 Hegira Health is leading the way to making zero-suicide a reality. With your support, we can make a difference, TOGETHER!

Pathways for Suicide Prevention Video