Could a new US technique help to reduce risk of suicide in the UK?
More than 6,000 people die by suicide each year. And it is the leading cause of death in young men in the UK.
So what can be done to tackle this urgent crisis? We know that when someone attempts suicide and is admitted for hospital treatment, the risk remains high that they will try to take their own life again. But there is currently no standard, evidence-based help that staff can offer to reduce that risk. And many may find they experience delays in getting support from a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist too.
Professor Rory O’Connor and his team at the University of Glasgow are investigating whether a programme of support developed for veterans in the US can be adapted to fill this urgent need in the UK.
The US-developed support programme helps people to write a safety plan in hospital, identifying warning signs to look for and ways to respond to suicidal thoughts. Follow-up help is then given over the phone to help people stay safe and find effective support.
Rory and his team will follow a three-part process to find out whether this approach, which will be known as SAFE TEL, can work in the UK.
This initial evaluation is designed to explore whether SAFE TEL can provide effective support when people attempt suicide. It will also look at people’s willingness to take part.
The answers to those questions will help to decide whether a large-scale trial is appropriate – as our researchers search for ways to fill this critical gap in mental health support.
Professor Rory O’Connor is Chair in Health Psychology at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow where he leads the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory. He has conducted research into suicide and self-harm for more than 20 years.
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