A Qualitative Assessment of an Innovative Suicide Prevention and Treatment Approach: Contextual-Conceptual Therapy

Nitasha Nagaraj,Breahnna Saunders,Bhalchandra Mirlekar,Amita Vyas

doi:10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-20-3242

Nitasha Nagaraj, Breahnna Saunders + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-20-3242

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Abstract

Mental health and mental illness is a critical to a person’s overall health. In the United States alone, mental illness effects one in six adults. Furthermore, 40% of those individuals who die of suicide have been diagnosed with a mental health condition or illness. Yet, there is a paucity of research on innovative methods that help prevent suicide. The Contextual-Conceptual Therapy (CCT) approach introduces an innovative way to treat suicide by working to uncover the strengths of the suicidal person and addressing a person’s true self. The CCT approach was developed over the course of 25 years working with more than 16,000 suicidal patients in Seattle, Washington, and is tailored specifically for primary and secondary prevention of suicide. While there has been anecdotal evidence of the effectiveness of the CCT program, the program has yet to be formally evaluated. This qualitative research study aims to understand the impact the CCT approach has had on its clients. Eleven former CCT clients were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Outcomes described by participants included an increase in curiosity and self-efficacy as a means through which to decrease suicide ideation and behavior, and proved to be incredibly powerful in changing long-term outcomes. This qualitative study is a first-step in providing critical insight on suicide prevention for wider dissemination. At a time when adverse mental health and illness is impacting the lives of millions of people, the CCT approach has the potential to address suicide, mental illness and mental health across diverse populations.

Highlights

Mental health is one’s emotional and psychological state and it is not the same as mental illness, poor mental health can lead to both mental and physical illnesses
It is without question that both adverse mental health and mental illness continue to be regarded as public health priorities in the United States and globally, with significant short and long-term consequences to an individual’s physical health and happiness, as well as a nation’s prosperity
A 2018 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report illustrated recent declines in life expectancy in the U.S, and partially attributed this decrease to suicide at young ages along with increases in other leading causes of death [4]

Summary

Introduction

Mental health is one’s emotional and psychological state and it is not the same as mental illness, poor mental health can lead to both mental and physical illnesses. Suicide and suicide ideation, which stem from both poor mental health and mental illnesses, continue to be a pervasive problem in the United States, impacting all dimensions of health, including economic, social, and cultural [1]. A 2018 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report illustrated recent declines in life expectancy in the U.S, and partially attributed this decrease to suicide at young ages along with increases in other leading causes of death [4]. A 2013 CDC report which included lower rates of suicide when compared to 2017, calculated suicide as a $50.8 billion cost for fatal injury. This includes medical and work loss costs of the fatal injury [6]

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