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.

Prevention of suicide and treatment following self-harm

2020 ◽  
pp. 1303-1314
Author(s):  
Keith Hawton ◽  
Kate E. A. Saunders ◽  
Alexandra Pitman
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Self Harm

Suicide prevention strategies generally combine broad population or universal approaches with complementary high-risk or targeted prevention interventions, with evidence favouring greater impacts of population strategies. This chapter summarizes the evidence supporting a range of approaches to suicide prevention at the population level (restricting access to means of suicide, limiting the effects of suicide suggestion, influencing media portrayals of suicidal behaviour, using psychoeducation to improve help-seeking, primary care training, school interventions, telephone/Internet support services, lay training in gatekeeping) and for high-risk groups (risk management for specific psychiatric disorders, optimizing psychotropic medication, service delivery reform, enhanced support for specific high-risk groups—people with substance misuse and physical health problems, people who self-harm, people in specific occupational groups, prisoners, and people bereaved by suicide). Particular attention is given to evaluating the evidence base for interventions for people who self-harm. The chapter concludes that a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach is required for suicide prevention, tailored to specific local epidemiological patterns.

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.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional study of patients presenting for hospital-based screening for COVID-19: risk of disease, and healthcare access preferences

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Rojek ◽  
Martin Dutch ◽  
Daniel Peyton ◽  
Rachel Pelly ◽  
Mark Putland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cross Sectional

AbstractIntroductionEarly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Australian emergency departments (EDs) have experienced an unprecedented surge in patients seeking screening for COVID-19. Understanding what proportion of these patients require screening, who can be safely screened in community based models of care, and who requires an emergency departments to care for them is critical for workforce and infrastructure planning across the healthcare system, as well as public messaging campaigns.MethodssIn this cross sectional survey, we screened patients presenting to a SARS-CoV-2 screening clinic in a tertiary hospital Emergency Department in Melbourne, Australia. We assessed the proportion of patients who met screening criteria; self-reported symptom severity; reasons why they came to the ED for screening; views on community-based models of care; and sources of information accessed about COVID-19.ResultsWe included findings from 1846 patients who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) for COVID-19 screening from 18th to 30th March 2020. Most patients (55.3%) did not meet criteria for screening and most (57.6%) had mild or no (13.4%) symptoms. The main reason for coming to the ED was being referred by a telephone health service (31.3%) and 136 (7.4%) said they tried to contact their GP but could not get an appointment. Only 47 (2.6%) said they thought the disease was too specialized for their GP to manage. Patients accessed numerous information sources, commonly government websites (68.4%) and other websites (51.3%) for COVID-19 information.Conclusionsif we are to ensure that emergency departments can cope with the likely surge in presentations requiring resuscitation or inpatient care COVID-19, we should strengthen access to alternative services to triage patients to prevent unnecessary presentations at health services, and to direct those who are well but require screening away from EDs.

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.

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

The Impact of Universal Suicide-Prevention Programs on the Help-Seeking Attitudes and Behaviors of Youths

Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie Klimes-Dougan ◽  
David A. Klingbeil ◽  
Sarah J. Meller
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Universal Prevention ◽  
Help Seeking Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs ◽  
The Impact

Background: While the ultimate goal of adolescent suicide-prevention efforts is to decrease the incidence of death by suicide, a critical intermediary goal is directing youths toward effective sources of assistance. Aim: To comprehensively review the universal prevention literature and examine the effects of universal prevention programs on student’s attitudes and behaviors related to help-seeking. Method: We systematically reviewed studies that assessed help-seeking outcomes including prevention efforts utilizing (1) psychoeducational curricula, (2) gatekeeper training, and (3) public service messaging directed at youths. Of the studies reviewed, 17 studies evaluated the help-seeking outcomes. These studies were identified through a range of sources (e.g., searching online databases, examining references of published articles on suicide prevention). Results: The results of this review suggest that suicide-prevention programming has a limited impact on help-seeking behavior. Although there was some evidence that suicide-prevention programs had a positive impact on students’ help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, there was also evidence of no effects or iatrogenic effects. Sex and risk status were moderators of program effects on students help-seeking. Conclusions: Caution is warranted when considering which suicidal prevention interventions best optimize the intended goals. The impact on adolescents’ help-seeking behavior is a key concern for educators and mental-health professionals.

Non-Fatal Deliberate Self-Harm in Three Remote Indigenous Communities in Far North Queensland, Australia

Crisis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 422-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Rouen ◽  
Alan R. Clough ◽  
Caryn West
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Deliberate Self Harm ◽  
Health Care Center ◽  
Far North ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Self Harm

Abstract. Background: Indigenous Australians experience a suicide rate over twice that of the general population. With nonfatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) being the single most important risk factor for suicide, characterizing the incidence and repetition of DSH in this population is essential. Aims: To investigate the incidence and repetition of DSH in three remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland, Australia. Method: DSH presentation data at a primary health-care center in each community were analyzed over a 6-year period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2011. Results: A DSH presentation rate of 1,638 per 100,000 population was found within the communities. Rates were higher in age groups 15–24 and 25–34, varied between communities, and were not significantly different between genders; 60% of DSH repetitions occurred within 6 months of an earlier episode. Of the 227 DSH presentations, 32% involved hanging. Limitations: This study was based on a subset of a larger dataset not specifically designed for DSH data collection and assesses the subset of the communities that presented to the primary health-care centers. Conclusion: A dedicated DSH monitoring study is required to provide a better understanding of DSH in these communities and to inform early intervention strategies.

scholarly journals UTILIZING NUTRITION SERVICES PROVIDERS TO PREVENT LATE-LIFE SUICIDE: IMPLEMENTING A RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S824-S825
Author(s):  
Matthew C Fullen ◽  
Mary Chase Mize ◽  
Laura R Shannonhouse
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Nutrition Services ◽  
Suicide Prevention Training ◽  
The Impact

Abstract A challenge in preventing late-life suicide is identifying and responding to persons-at-risk prior to a suicide attempt. Distressed older adults are less likely to turn to a mental health professional, meaning that community-based prevention strategies are vitally important to comprehensive prevention frameworks. Due to their “natural helper” role, nutrition services (NS) volunteers may be well-positioned to identify suicide warning signs and respond accordingly. Unfortunately, there is a lack of systematic, empirically-tested evaluations of the effectiveness of community-based strategies to prevent older adult suicide, including the use of NS volunteers. To remedy this, the authors partnered with several home- and community-based service organizations to measure the impact of training nutrition services volunteers in suicide prevention skills. The authors will present preliminary findings from this federally-funded randomized, controlled trial of suicide prevention training (i.e., ASIST; safeTALK) on late-life suicidality and its correlates.

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