Providing a full continuum of care is an important part of suicide prevention. This includes crisis services such as hotlines and helplines, mobile crises teams, and walk-in crisis clinics. It also includes reducing access to lethal means, including medication and weapons.
Risk factors and warning signs for suicide include mental disorders, a history of loss or failure, and physical illness. Protective factors include life skills, resilience and social connectedness.
Identifying people at risk
People who have a history of mental health problems or physical illness are at greater risk for suicide. They may also be affected by life events, such as the death of a loved one or a major family conflict. They may also be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts because of bullying or harassment.
Everyone can help by identifying people who are at risk and taking action. Learn about the warning signs, such as a lack of interest in life or feelings of worthlessness. You can also talk to them and offer support. You can also reduce a person’s access to lethal means of suicide, such as pills or a gun. Most people who kill themselves are impulsive, and they often make multiple attempts before succeeding.
Providing crisis services
When a person is in crisis, they may feel hopeless and not know where to turn for help. This is why it’s important to provide them with immediate access to the help they need through suicide prevention services. These services include hotlines and other types of support, such as safety planning. Safety plans are a series of steps that a person can take to cope with a suicide risk and help them live through a high-risk period.
These programs also provide lethal means counseling, which is the process of removing or limiting a person’s access to lethal means of self-harm. Additionally, they can assist in linking to community-based care and support networks. In addition, they can facilitate admission to a psychiatric hospital or crisis stabilization program when necessary.
Providing postvention
Postvention is an important part of suicide prevention because it alleviates the effects of stress on those who have lost someone to suicide. It also helps prevent the suicide attempt of those who have been exposed to a loved one’s death. It is essential for workplace leaders to understand how to provide support for employees who have suffered a loss through suicide.
Providing postvention requires communication to be sensitive and respectful. It should avoid glorifying or idolizing the victim, sensationalizing the death, and vilifying the person who committed suicide. Additionally, it should promote the availability of resources for survivors and emphasize the importance of referring to them if needed. It should also include communication templates for when a situation arises. The template should be created ahead of time and retrieved as the need arises.
Providing a full continuum of care
The continuum of care is important for patients with chronic illnesses, especially those who rely on multiple types of medical services. A 2021 report found that patients who received coordinated care reported higher satisfaction with their treatment.
Continuum of care may include community support groups, 12-step programs, and faith-based fellowships. Introducing these options to clients early on can help them stay engaged and improve their outcomes. It also encourages clients to transition into the next level of care more smoothly.
Nurses can play a key role in providing a continuum of care, as they often interact with patients across the care spectrum. They can also coordinate transitional care plans and handle other tasks related to a patient’s continuity of care. They can even help a client find the right community-based mental health program.
Providing supportive relationships and community connectedness
Suicide is a major problem worldwide. It is often the result of a mental illness or substance abuse, and is preventable. Educating people about suicide prevention and providing resources can help. This can include teaching coping and problem-solving skills, increasing options for temporary assistance, and reducing access to lethal means of suicide through policies and laws.
Warning signs of suicide can be subtle and difficult to detect. They may include talking about or attempting to kill themselves, seeking out weapons or drugs, or feeling hopeless and having no future. Teachers and parents can be particularly helpful in identifying these signs.
SAMHSA funds a number of suicide prevention initiatives. These include the Garrett Lee Smith Grant program, which supports state, tribal, and community organizations and coalitions that serve populations with high suicide rates. It also supports research and provides training, resource materials, and a best practices registry.