National Suicide Research Articles

A Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Text-Based Crisis Intervention and Phone-Based Crisis Intervention in Reducing Emotional Distress Among Texters and Callers.

Today, dying by suicide is one of the most important mental health challenges in the world, and proper planning and using various preventive methods play an important role in this field. The present research aimed to study comparatively the effectiveness of text-based intervention in reducing emotional distress of people involved in psychosocial crises, comparing it with phone-based intervention. In this study, the Distress Thermometer, assessing emotional distress, was used at the start and end of both text and phone-based interventions to explore their effectiveness in crisis de-escalation and management. This study comprises two samples within an overarching study, with 700 clients receiving text-based intervention and 737 clients receiving phone-based intervention. The research findings indicate the effectiveness of both methods in reducing emotional distress among individuals in crisis. The mean emotional distress significantly differed between pre-and post-tests. Importantly, prior to controlling for baseline distress levels, text-based intervention demonstrated particularly strong efficacy in reducing emotional distress, showing a statistically significant difference. Recognizing the effectiveness of both intervention methods and particularly the favorable response of young people with immediate suicide risk to text-based intervention, prioritizing the implementation of text-based systems is recommended in the national suicide prevention programs of developing countries.

Key informant perspectives of suicide prevention in Australia

BackgroundSuicide prevention policy in Australia is in a period of reform. The National Suicide Prevention Office is leading the development of a new National Suicide Prevention Strategy (Strategy). Stakeholder input is a critical element in the development of the new Strategy. This article describes key informant views about government-led suicide prevention efforts in Australia obtained as part of an environmental scan conducted as one input to inform the Strategy development process.MethodsWe interviewed 24 key informants in November and December 2022. Key informants were purposively recruited to ensure representation from cross-jurisdiction government departments/agencies, peak bodies and leaders in the suicide prevention sector, people with lived experience of suicide, and suicide prevention researchers. We enquired about successes, challenges, and opportunities. NVivo was used to conduct thematic analysis.ResultsKey themes identified as successes in Australia’s suicide prevention efforts included: leadership and funding for programs, services, and research; valuing the collective lived experience voice; moving towards a whole-of-government/system approach; and high community and political suicide (prevention) awareness. Key themes emerging as challenges in the sector were: defining the suicide prevention sector, limitations in the service system, workforce issues, and building the evidence base. Key themes mentioned as opportunities for improving suicide prevention efforts were: leveraging the current unprecedented awareness and desire for collaboration among multiple stakeholder groups; adopting wellness rather than crisis-driven models of care; including lived experience and co-design in all stages and aspects of policy planning, service development, and evaluation; and investing in data, research, and evaluation.ConclusionsKey informants from across the suicide prevention sector in Australia identified a range of issues for consideration in the development of Australia’s new National Suicide Prevention Strategy which are also relevant for suicide prevention policy and program development in other high-income countries. Key issues include the need for concerted efforts to define and build the capacity of the suicide prevention sector, implement and monitor a whole-of-government approach that includes wellness models of care and lived experience, and bolster the evidence base. These efforts require effective leadership and resourcing.

Suicide Patterns in Northern Pakistan: A 10-Year Analysis of Police Records from Three Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan

Introduction Police records are an important resource in absence of a national suicide database in the context of Pakistan. We studied suicides reported across three districts of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB); causes, patterns of suicidal behaviors, and classification processes. Methods A retrospective survey of police records from GB between 2012 and March 2022 was completed using a structured questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, possible causes, and forensic details. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test of association were applied. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad (IRB 0210-22). Results In total, 340 cases of suicides were registered. Among them, 53% (n = 179) were females, 59% (n = 202) unmarried and 40% (n = 136) below 20 years of age. Stress and mental illnesses were reported in 73% (n = 247) cases. Common methods of suicide were hanging (41%; n = 141) and firearms (25%; n = 85). More men compared to women attempted suicide by firearms while more women died by drowning or poisoning. Greater proportion of individuals who were unmarried and had formal education died by suicide compared to their demographic counterparts. Number of individuals having a “mental illness” was higher in men while significantly more women were affected by “domestic stressors.” Seven (2.9%) cases reported between 2021 and 2022 were reclassified as homicides. Conclusion Suicide is more common among females compared to males, unmarried compared to married, and younger population compared to older population. Cases reclassified as homicide highlight the need for rigorous forensic inquiry of each suicide. Development of effective suicide prevention strategies is urgently required.

Increases in suicidal thoughts disclosure among adults in France from 2000 to 2021

BackgroundThe objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation disclosure over the past two decades in nationally representative samples of the general population, and to identify factors associated with disclosure. MethodsData were drawn from consecutive nationally representative cross-sectional Health Barometer surveys. The 2000, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2021 waves were pooled to examine disclosure among those who reported 12-month suicidal ideation. Logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with the odds of disclosure. ResultsAcross all waves (n = 124,124), 6014 of adults (4.7 %) reported 12-month suicidal ideation, and among them, 49.7 % talked to someone about it. Disclosure was 39 % in 2000, 44.6 % in 2005, 49.9 % in 2010, 52.8 % in 2014, 47.2 % in 2017, and 64.8 % in 2021. Female gender, a prior suicide attempt, higher education, inactive status, and younger age were associated with significantly greater odds of disclosure. Each survey wave was also associated with a greater likelihood of disclosure when compared to 2000, 1.31 (95 % CI, 1.08–1.59) in 2005, 1.69 (95 % CI, 1.38–2.07) in 2010, 1.89 (95 % CI, 1.52–2.34) in 2014, 1.47 (95 % CI, 1.21–1.79) in 2017, and 2.99 (95 % CI, 2.43–3.68) in 2021. LimitationsCross-sectional surveys. ConclusionsIn the general population of France, adults with suicidal ideation were increasingly more likely to disclose their ideation to someone in recent years. Factors associated with odds of disclosure should inform national suicide prevention strategies to identify subgroups who remain less likely than others to disclose their ideation.

What is known about suicide prevention gatekeeper training and directions for future research.

Suicide prevention training that teaches skills to support a person experiencing thoughts of suicide and create community support networks, often termed, "gatekeeper" training (GKT), has been a longstanding pillar of international, national, and local suicide prevention efforts. GKT aims to improve knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy in identifying individuals at risk for suicide, hopefully enhancing one's willingness and ability to intervene with a person experiencing a crisis. However, little is known about GKT's effectiveness in creating the essential behavior change (e.g., increase in intervening behaviors) it sets out to accomplish. This paper explores the history and theoretical background of GKT, reviews the current state of research on GKT, and provides framing and recommendations for next steps to advance research and practice around GKT. Through positioning GKT appropriately within the field of suicide prevention, we argue that the field of suicide prevention needs more rigorous research around GKT that includes long-term follow-up data on usage of skills learned during training, data on outcomes of those who have received an intervention from a trained gatekeeper, and the integration of implementation science to further our understanding of which trainings are appropriate for which helpers.

Talk Time Differences Between Interregional and Intraregional Calls to a Crisis Helpline: Statistical Analysis.

National suicide prevention strategies are general population-based approaches to prevent suicide by promoting help-seeking behaviors and implementing interventions. Crisis helplines are one of the suicide prevention resources available for public use, where individuals experiencing a crisis can talk to a trained volunteer. Samaritans UK operates on a national scale, with a number of branches located within each of the United Kingdom's 4 countries or regions. The aim of this study was to identify any differences in call duration across the helpline service in order to determine whether service varied interregionally and intraregionally and to determine the impact of calls answered in the same region as the caller, compared with calls answered in a different region on the duration of calls made from landlines to Samaritans UK. Calls may be routed by Samaritans, wherein the telephony system sends the call to the next available volunteer, irrespective of location; therefore, individuals may be routed to a branch within the same region as the caller's current region (intraregional calls) or routed to a branch that is in a different region from that of the caller's current region (interregional calls). The origin of calls by region was identified using the landline prefix of the anonymized caller identifier, along with the region of the destination branch (as branch details are recorded in the call details record). First, a Levene's test of homogeneity of variance was carried out for each condition, that is, England calls and Scotland calls. Thereafter, for each condition, a one-way ANOVA or one-way analysis of means was carried out to evaluate any significant differences in call duration. ANOVA results showed that there are significant differences in call durations between intraregional calls and interregional calls (P<.001). Across all conditions within this study, callers stayed on the phone for a shorter period of time when routed to a branch that is within the same region as the call origin than if they were put through to a branch within a different region than the call origin. Statistical analyses showed that there were significant differences between interregional and intraregional calls. On average, callers to crisis helplines stayed on the phone for a shorter period of time if they were routed to a branch within the same region in which the call originated than if they were routed to a branch in a different region of origin. The findings from this study have practical applications, which may allow crisis helplines to manage their resources more effectively and improve caller satisfaction with the service.

Effect of community attitudes on suicide mortality in South Korea: a nationwide ecological study.

Attitudes toward suicide are essential in suicide prevention, as suicide is socio-culturally nuanced. Although the relationship between individual attitudes and suicidal behavior has been extensively studied, the effect of community attitudes-aggregated by region-on suicide mortality remains ambiguous. This study explored the association between community attitudes and real-world suicide mortality. Data on attitudes toward suicide from the 2018 Korea National Suicide Survey (N = 1500) and individual mortality data from the MicroData Integrated System were obtained. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a factor structure with three factors: "Permissiveness," "Unjustified behavior," and "Readiness to help/Preventability." Thirty regional units in South Korea aggregated the data for ecological analysis. We used negative binomial models to examine the association at the regional level, and stratified analysis by gender and age group was conducted. "Permissiveness" was associated with reduced suicide rates in a univariate model (P < 0.001). Adjusting for gender, age, and additional sociodemographics did not alter the association. Additionally, this relationship was observed in males and individuals under 60 years of age after stratification. However, "Unjustified Behavior" and "Readiness to help/Preventability" exhibited no significant association with suicide in any model or stratum. The observed inverse association between permissive community attitudes and suicide contradicts the findings of previous research that links permissive individual attitudes to increased suicidal behavior. Our findings suggest that attitudes may operate differently at the individual and group levels. Although the cross-sectional design and single-country focus of this study warrant further investigation, our findings indicate that attitudes are significant contextual factors in the process of suicide, which could lead to novel approaches in suicide prevention.

Preventing suicide: a call to action.

The public health approach to suicide prevention requires us to move away from thinking about suicide as a purely clinical problem and to pay heed to the array of social determinants (such as financial hardship or domestic violence and abuse) that might lead people to consider suicide as an option. Clinical factors are important, and, indeed, clinical or indicated interventions are entirely appropriate for people who have reached a point of crisis and should be a mainstay of national suicide prevention strategies. However, our Series stresses the need for selective and universal interventions that tackle the pervasive problem of suicide in a more upstream way, preventing people reaching a crisis point. Many social determinants can best be addressed by sectors outside health, so we are calling for a whole-of-government commitment to suicide prevention. We make recommendations for actions in the areas of policy, practice, research, and advocacy. People with lived experience of suicide should have genuine involvement in all of these actions.

Stigma and Barriers to Care, Online Mental Health Tools, and Suicidality in California's Veterans.

Veterans have a higher national suicide rate than non-veterans (31.6 versus 18.0 per 100,000). Psychotherapy and other treatments are effective at reducing suicidality, yet stigma and barriers to care reduce willingness to seek help. For veterans who do seek help, they are often undertreated leaving them still in need of help. Online mental health tools (OMHTs) provide another option for obtaining help; however, there is limited research regarding the relationship between stigma and barriers to care, OMHT use, and suicidality. We hypothesized that stigma and barriers are related to higher likelihood of OMHT use and OMHT use is related to lower likelihood of suicidality. The California Health Interview Survey is a population-based state health survey that collects data over a 2-year cycle via web and phone interviews. The sample was 4,435 veterans (91% male, 75% White, and average age 67 years old). The study was institutional review board exempt because data storage and analyses were done at the Data Access Center at University of California-Los Angeles. Logistic regressions showed endorsing stigma and barriers indicated a higher likelihood of using OMHTs. Additionally, use of OMHTs was unexpectedly associated with greater suicidality. Findings reinforce the need for research aimed at identifying ways to reduce stigma and barriers toward seeking help. Online mental health tools are a viable option for individuals experiencing stigma and barriers and for individuals who previously experienced suicidality.

Government funded suicide prevention in Australia – an environmental scan

BackgroundSuicide is a worldwide public health problem. In response to this problem, Australia was one of the first countries to develop national suicide prevention policy. Guided by the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO), which was established in 2021, suicide prevention in Australia is in a period of reform. The NSPO is driving a nationally consistent and integrated approach to suicide prevention including leading the development of a new National Suicide Prevention Strategy. This article summarises findings from an environmental scan of government-led suicide prevention in Australia, conducted as an input for the development of the new Strategy.MethodsThe scan was conducted from August 2022 to January 2023. We searched relevant government websites and Google to identify policy documents and programs and services. We undertook a desktop review of documents and programs/services using coding templates developed to address the objectives of the scan. Qualitative information was extracted in a systematic manner using these templates.ResultsAustralia’s suicide prevention efforts are significant as demonstrated by activities ranging from policy documents intended to guide and plan activity, the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement committing the Federal Government and jurisdictions to work together, and the availability of national, state, local area based, and digital services and programs. Suicide prevention approaches in Australia are mostly selective or indicated. There is less emphasis on universal approaches, wellbeing promotion, strengthening protective factors and mitigating the impact of known drivers of distress. In addition, there is limited evidence to demonstrate a whole-of-government or whole-of-system approach is operating in Australia. Findings should be interpreted in the context that suicide prevention in Australia is currently in a period of transition.ConclusionsCurrent government emphasis on and investment in suicide prevention activity, together with strong commitment to lived experience and cross sectorial collaboration, are substantial and appropriate. There are also many opportunities to further progress cross-portfolio and cross-jurisdiction suicide prevention and response efforts. This requires urgently adopting a shared understanding of suicide, which includes the diverse drivers of suicidal distress, and improving protective factors and social wellbeing.

Suicide in the USA: A Decadal Study From the 1930s to the 2020s.

This study provides a decadal analysis of national suicide data over 90 years, offering a comprehensive view of long-term trends and current levels in the United States. We analyzed mean decadal suicide numbers, rates, and confidence intervals from the 1930s to the early 2020s across demographic categories including sex, race, and age. Our findings reveal that suicide rates in the 2020s are the highest since the 1930s. The data indicate significant variations across groups; the 2020s show the highest suicide rates for both Whites and Nonwhites, and individuals under 44years of age. Conversely, men's suicide rates were slightly lower than those in the 1930s, whereas rates for women and older adults peaked during the 1930s. The results underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of suicide trends and proactive suicide prevention measures by governmental and other relevant organizations.

Challenges in the evaluation of suicide prevention measures and quality of suicide data in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: findings from qualitative expert interviews

BackgroundSuicide prevention requires diverse, integrated, and evidence-based measures. Comprehensive evaluation of interventions and reliable suicide data are crucial for guiding policy-making and advancing suicide prevention efforts. This study aimed to analyze current issues and gaps in the evaluation of suicide prevention measures and the quality of suicide data in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to derive specific recommendations for improvement.MethodsOnline, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 experts in suicide prevention from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, covering insights from policy, science, and practice. The interviews took place between September 2022 and February 2023, were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the Framework method.ResultsWhile solid evidence supports the effectiveness of some suicide prevention interventions, experts indicated that the evaluation of many other measures is weak. Conducting effectiveness studies in suicide prevention presents a range of methodological and practical challenges, including recruitment difficulties, choosing adequate outcome criteria, ethical considerations, and trade-offs in allocating resources to evaluation efforts. Many interviewees rated the quality of national suicide statistics in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as comparatively high. However, they noted limitations in the scope, timeliness, and reliability of these data, prompting some regions to implement their own suicide monitoring systems. None of the three countries has national routine data on suicide attempts.ConclusionWhile some challenges in evaluating suicide prevention measures are inevitable, others can potentially be mitigated. Evaluations could be enhanced by combining traditional and innovative research designs, including intermediate outcomes and factors concerning the implementation process, and employing participatory and transdisciplinary research to engage different stakeholders. Reliable suicide data are essential for identifying trends, supporting research, and designing targeted prevention measures. To improve the quality of suicide data, a standardized monitoring approach, including uniform definitions, trained professionals, and cross-sector agreement on leadership and financing, should be pursued. This study provides actionable recommendations and highlights existing good practice approaches, thereby supporting decision-makers and providing guidance for advancing suicide prevention on a broader scale.

Impact of Implementation Facilitation on the REACH VET Clinical Program for Veterans at Risk for Suicide.

In 2017, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) implemented a national suicide prevention program, called Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH VET), that uses a predictive algorithm to identify, attempt to reach, assess, and care for patients at the highest risk for suicide. The authors aimed to evaluate whether facilitation enhanced implementation of REACH VET at VHA facilities not meeting target completion rates. In this hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 2 program evaluation, a quasi-experimental pre-post design was used to assess changes in implementation outcome measures evaluated 6 months before and 6 months after onset of facilitation of REACH VET implementation at 23 VHA facilities. Measures included percentages of patients with documented coordinator and provider acknowledgment of receipt, care evaluation, and outreach attempt. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare differences in REACH VET outcome measures before and after facilitation. Qualitative interviews were conducted with personnel and were explored via template analysis. Time had a significant effect in all outcomes models (p<0.001). An effect of facilitation was significant only for the outcome of attempted outreach. Patients identified by REACH VET had significantly higher odds of having a documented outreach attempt after facilitation of REACH VET implementation, compared with before facilitation. Site personnel felt supported and reported that the external facilitators were helpful and responsive. Facilitation of REACH VET implementation was associated with an improvement in outreach attempts to veterans identified as being at increased risk for suicide. Outreach is critical for engaging veterans in care.

Crisis Intercept Mapping for Community-Based Suicide Prevention: An Assessment of the Crisis Infrastructure and Future Considerations for 988.

Suicide is a significant public health problem, yet barriers to treatment remain. To address barriers and meet needs, Congress designated a new 988 dialing code to increase utilization of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. As a result, call volume increased, and demand for community-based crisis services is expected. To examine the availability of community-based crisis care, we analyzed information collected from 2020 to 2022 Crisis Intercept Mapping (CIM) technical assistance workshops conducted with communities across the country. We found that training and implementation of suicide risk screening, safety planning, lethal means safety, and follow-up were limited and inconsistent among communities in our study. Collaboration was variable, impacting the ability of communities to support care transitions. Participants described multiple barriers to the routine implementation of evidence-based care and identified potential solutions for addressing them. Findings suggest a need for relationship building and targeted education and training to meet future demand for crisis care.

Making Decisions About Calling 988 Versus 911: Understanding End-User Views Before the Launch of 988.

The 988 telephone number was implemented in July 2022 as an easily accessible way to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and has been envisioned as one step in building a more robust crisis care continuum in the United States. This study aimed to describe how various stakeholders anticipated using 988 compared with the most widely known crisis line: 911. Focus groups (N=15, with 76 total participants) were conducted in three counties in New York State between October and November 2021, before the launch of 988. Five stakeholder groups were included: mental health services consumers, family members of consumers, community members, mental health providers, and crisis call takers. Thematic analysis was used to code and analyze all focus group transcripts. Participants anticipated that key uses for 988 would be accessing support during a crisis, obtaining connections to local resources and services, and receiving alternatives to law enforcement response. However, participants continued to articulate uses for 911 during a mental health crisis, especially for situations involving "safety concerns." The broad expectations for 988 suggest that the line must be flexible and responsive to a range of needs and that communities should clearly define what is available through 988. More implementation research is needed to ensure a detailed understanding of those whom 988 is serving, how the line meets callers' needs, and the line's potential for connecting people to needed services.

Suicide among Indian Medical Students and Professionals: A 3-year Exploratory Study Using Online Google Database (2020–2022)

Abstract Background and Aims: Medical students and professionals are particularly susceptible to psychological distress due to various factors especially after COVID 19 pandemic. However, there is currently no robust reporting system for suicides among medical professionals in India. We aimed to explore the characteristics of suicide deaths among medical students and professionals in India over three years (2020–2022). Materials and Methods: We conducted a two-level retrospective analysis of online news report on suicide deaths among medical students and professionals from January 2020 to December 2022. Results: A total of 118 fatal suicides among MBBS students, postgraduates and working medical professionals were reported. More than 50 percent of the reported suicides were before the age of 30 years. The most common method used was hanging (49%) and the presence of mental illness (12%) was the commonest predictor of suicide among medical students and professionals. Conclusion: There is pressing need for a national suicide reporting system for medical students and professionals to formulate a stringent policy on suicide prevention for medical community.

Have socioeconomic determinants of national suicide rates changed over 20 years? A model averaging approach

ABSTRACT We aim to identify how relative importance of potential drivers of national suicide rates has changed over time. We apply statistical model averaging techniques to a dataset that covers 25 potential suicide determinants for 172 countries over 20 years. Our application of the weighted average least squares (WALS) approach indicates that some inferences are unstable across time. Suicide determinants related to religious affiliations tend to become less important in recent years. The opposite is true for non-educational measures of human capital, such as life expectancy at age 65, and labour market variables, such as unemployment. Our analysis sheds some light on the differential effects of potential suicide determinants on male and female suicidality and their evolution over time.

Public Attitudes, Inequities, and Polarization in the Launch of the 988 Lifeline

Context: To address the considerable burden of mental health need in the United States, Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act in 2020. The act rebranded the national suicide prevention lifeline as 988, a three-digit number akin to 911 for individuals to call in the case of a mental health emergency. Surprisingly little is known about American attitudes toward this new lifeline. Methods: The authors use a demographically representative survey of 5,482 US adults conducted June 24–28, 2022, to examine the influence of mental health status, partisan identification, and demographic characteristics on public awareness of the new 988 lifeline, public support for the lifeline, and intention to use it. Findings: The authors find that while only a quarter of Americans are aware of the lifeline, support for the 988 lifeline is widespread, with more than 75% of Americans indicating they would be likely to use the new number if needed. The authors identify key disparities in awareness, support, and intended use, with Republicans, individuals with low socioeconomic status, and Blacks less supportive of the 988 lifeline and in some cases less likely to use it. Conclusions: The results point to the need for additional interventions that increase public awareness of 988 and reduce disparities in program knowledge, support, and intention to use.

Advancing suicide prevention in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: a qualitative study.

Suicide is a significant public health problem, impacting individuals, families and communities worldwide. Effective suicide prevention requires a comprehensive approach with diverse integrated interventions and collaboration across sectors, stakeholders and professions. This study aims to identify challenges, gaps and success factors in current suicide prevention efforts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, providing specific recommendations for advancement. We conducted online, semi-structured interviews with 36 suicide prevention experts from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, incorporating perspectives from policy, science and practice. Interviews were conducted between September 2022 and February 2023, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Framework method. Despite progress in national strategies and coordinated efforts for suicide prevention, challenges such as resource scarcity, stigma and structural issues in psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care persist. The interviewees identified several areas for advancement, including developing targeted prevention measures for men and older people, strengthening collaboration across sectors, stakeholders and professions, and increasing the involvement of individuals with lived experience. While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges in psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care, it has concurrently strengthened interest in suicide prevention among policymakers and the media. National suicide prevention strategies play a crucial role in setting priorities, raising public awareness, and guiding action. However, since most suicide prevention efforts are still predominantly health sector-driven, a more comprehensive approach is needed to promote the involvement of all relevant actors and address suicidality as a collective societal responsibility. Tailoring prevention programs for risk groups like older people and men is important, as these populations show high suicide rates and face a lack of targeted interventions. Our study underscores the importance to continuously monitor, refine and strengthen collaborative and evidence-based suicide prevention efforts.

Characteristics and outcomes of people in suicidal crisis at two emergency departments: a service evaluation.

Emergency departments (EDs) provide critical opportunities for nurses to support suicide prevention. This article details a service evaluation that was undertaken to explore the characteristics and outcomes of people in suicidal crisis at two EDs in the East of England during June 2023. Data routinely collected by the ED mental health liaison team were combined with a retrospective case note review of the local NHS mental health trust's electronic patient records. Attendees had a mean age of 35 years and seven months, and were often diagnosed with depression or emotionally unstable personality disorder. Most had a history of self-harm and were currently known to mental health services. Suicide-specific interventions were rarely recorded by nurses and relapse behaviours were prevalent after presentation. Local and national suicide prevention strategies should encourage nurses to address gaps in support, thereby improving patients' experiences in and beyond the ED.