Emergency Departments Are Underutilized Sites for Suicide Prevention

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Luke Larkin ◽  
Annette L. Beautrais
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Emergency Departments

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of the Literature for Suicide Prevention Interventions Initiated in Emergency Departments in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Costello ◽  
Jinjin Li
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
The United States ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Abstract Objective: Suicide is a leading cause of death around the world. In the United States, the suicide rate continues to increase with US Emergency Departments seeing over 500,000 suicide-related visits each year. Authors conducted a systematic literature review to determine the range of interventions administered in the ED. Methods: This is the first systematic literature review of this topic. The review is limited to studies conducted in Emergency Departments located in the United States with interventions that were initiated in the ED setting. Results: Of the 2,735 titles and abstracts identified, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. A narrow range of suicide prevention interventions are administered in the ED. Conclusions: Opportunities exist for additional types of suicide prevention interventions in the ED.

scholarly journals Suicide prevention during COVID-19: identification of groups with reduced presentations to emergency departments

2021 ◽  
pp. 103985622199263
Author(s):  
Jerneja Sveticic ◽  
Nicolas JC Stapelberg ◽  
Kathryn Turner
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Inpatient Care ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
Self Harm

Objective: Reductions in suicidal and self-harm presentations to emergency departments (EDs) since COVID-19 indicate changes in help-seeking behaviours, but it is unknown if hospital avoidance equally affects all population groups. Method: Socio-demographic and clinical information relating to suicidal and self-harm presentations to EDs in Queensland, Australia, were compared for the period before (March–August 2019) and since the COVID-19 outbreak (March–August 2020). Results: Since COVID, Indigenous Australians and persons with less severe suicidal and self-harm presentations had significantly reduced presentations, while persons younger than 18 years had more presentations. Less suicidal presentations resulted in an admission to inpatient care. Conclusions: Patterns of reduced attendance to ED in some groups suggest the need for innovative and community-based models of care to help prevent suicides during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Development of a Self-Harm Monitoring System for Victoria

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9385
Author(s):  
Jo Robinson ◽  
Katrina Witt ◽  
Michelle Lamblin ◽  
Matthew J. Spittal ◽  
Greg Carter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring System ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Pharmaceutical Preparations ◽  
World Health ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Self Harm

The prevention of suicide and suicide-related behaviour are key policy priorities in Australia and internationally. The World Health Organization has recommended that member states develop self-harm surveillance systems as part of their suicide prevention efforts. This is also a priority under Australia’s Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a state-based self-harm monitoring system in Victoria, Australia. In this system, data on all self-harm presentations are collected from eight hospital emergency departments in Victoria. A natural language processing classifier that uses machine learning to identify episodes of self-harm is currently being developed. This uses the free-text triage case notes, together with certain structured data fields, contained within the metadata of the incoming records. Post-processing is undertaken to identify primary mechanism of injury, substances consumed (including alcohol, illicit drugs and pharmaceutical preparations) and presence of psychiatric disorders. This system will ultimately leverage routinely collected data in combination with advanced artificial intelligence methods to support robust community-wide monitoring of self-harm. Once fully operational, this system will provide accurate and timely information on all presentations to participating emergency departments for self-harm, thereby providing a useful indicator for Australia’s suicide prevention efforts.

Hone Suicide Prevention Skills, Physician Says

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
BETSY BATES
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention

A Model for Analyzing Suicide Prevention

Crisis ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maila Upanne
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Practical Work ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Prevention Project ◽  
Individual Risk Factors

This study monitored the evolution of psychologists' (n = 31) conceptions of suicide prevention over the 9-year course of the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland and assessed the feasibility of the theoretical model for analyzing suicide prevention developed in earlier studies [ Upanne, 1999a , b ]. The study was formulated as a retrospective self-assessment where participants compared their earlier descriptions of suicide prevention with their current views. The changes in conceptions were analyzed and interpreted using both the model and the explanations given by the subjects themselves. The analysis proved the model to be a useful framework for revealing the essential features of prevention. The results showed that the freely-formulated ideas on prevention were more comprehensive than those evolved in practical work. Compared to the earlier findings, the conceptions among the group had shifted toward emphasizing a curative approach and the significance of individual risk factors. In particular, greater priority was focused on the acute suicide risk phase as a preventive target. Nonetheless, the overall structure of prevention ideology remained comprehensive and multifactorial, stressing multistage influencing. Promotive aims (protective factors) also remained part of the prevention paradigm. Practical working experiences enhanced the psychologists' sense of the difficulties of suicide prevention as well as their criticism and feeling of powerlessness.

Root Cause Analyses of Suicides of Mental Health Clients

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 316-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Gillies ◽  
David Chicop ◽  
Paul O'Halloran
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Data Collection Tool ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Communication Problems ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Mental Health Clients ◽  
Imminent Risk

Abstract. Background: The ability to predict imminent risk of suicide is limited, particularly among mental health clients. Root cause analysis (RCA) can be used by health services to identify service-wide approaches to suicide prevention. Aims: To (a) develop a standardized taxonomy for RCAs; (b) to quantitate service-related factors associated with suicides; and (c) to identify service-related suicide prevention strategies. Method: The RCAs of all people who died by suicide within 1 week of contact with the mental health service over 5 years were thematically analyzed using a data collection tool. Results: Data were derived from RCAs of all 64 people who died by suicide between 2008 and 2012. Major themes were categorized as individual, situational, and care-related factors. The most common factor was that clients had recently denied suicidality. Reliance on carers, recent changes in medication, communication problems, and problems in follow-through were also commonly identified. Conclusion: Given the difficulty in predicting suicide in people whose expressions of suicidal ideation change so rapidly, services may consider the use of strategies aimed at improving the individual, stressor, support, and care factors identified in this study.

Suicide Prevention Through Online Gatekeeping Using Search Advertising Techniques

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Sueki ◽  
Jiro Ito
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Consultation Service ◽  
Search Advertising ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
History Of

Abstract. Background: Nurturing gatekeepers is an effective suicide prevention strategy. Internet-based methods to screen those at high risk of suicide have been developed in recent years but have not been used for online gatekeeping. Aims: A preliminary study was conducted to examine the feasibility and effects of online gatekeeping. Method: Advertisements to promote e-mail psychological consultation service use among Internet users were placed on web pages identified by searches using suicide-related keywords. We replied to all emails received between July and December 2013 and analyzed their contents. Results: A total of 139 consultation service users were analyzed. The mean age was 23.8 years (SD = 9.7), and female users accounted for 80% of the sample. Suicidal ideation was present in 74.1%, and 12.2% had a history of suicide attempts. After consultation, positive changes in mood were observed in 10.8%, 16.5% showed intentions to seek help from new supporters, and 10.1% of all 139 users actually took help-seeking actions. Conclusion: Online gatekeeping to prevent suicide by placing advertisements on web search pages to promote consultation service use among Internet users with suicidal ideation may be feasible.

Crisis Phones - Suicide Prevention Versus Suggestion/Contagion Effects

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Stack
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Contagion Effects ◽  
Long Term Impact

Abstract. Background: There has been no systematic work on the short- or long-term impact of the installation of crisis phones on suicides from bridges. The present study addresses this issue. Method: Data refer to 219 suicides from 1954 through 2013 on the Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. Six crisis phones with signs were installed in July 1999. Results: In the first decade after installation, the phones were used by 27 suicidal persons and credited with preventing 26 or 2.6 suicides a year. However, the net suicide count increased from 48 in the 13 years before installation of phones to 106 the following 13 years or by 4.5 additional suicides/year (t =3.512, p < .001). Conclusion: Although the phones prevented some suicides, there was a net increase after installation. The findings are interpreted with reference to suggestion/contagion effects including the emergence of a controversial bridge suicide blog.

Sustaining the Effects of Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette Shtivelband ◽  
Patricia A. Aloise-Young ◽  
Peter Y. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Program Improvement ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Gatekeeper Training ◽  
Prevention Training ◽  
Continued Learning ◽  
Suicide Prevention Training

Background: Gatekeeper training is a promising suicide prevention strategy that is growing in popularity. Although gatekeeper training programs have been found to improve trainee knowledge, self-efficacy, and perceived skills, researchers have found that the benefit of gatekeeper training may not last over time. Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify strategies for strengthening the long-term effects of suicide prevention gatekeeper training. Method: In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with gatekeepers (N = 44) and data were analyzed using a qualitative research approach. Results: The results of this study suggest that posttraining interventions may be more effective if they include the following seven themes: (a) social network – connecting with other gatekeepers; (b) continued learning – further education; (c) community outreach – building awareness; (d) accessibility – convenience; (e) reminders – ongoing communication; (f) program improvement –- enhancing previous training; and (g) certification – accreditation. Conclusion: Posttraining interventions that incorporate the themes from this study offer a promising direction in which to sustain the effects of gatekeeper suicide prevention training.

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