Citation

Ryan TC, Chambers S, Gravey M, Jay SY, Wilcox HC, Cwik M. Psychiatr. Serv. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ps.202000559

PMID

35172597

Abstract

Research has shown that the months after hospital discharge following treatment for suicidal thoughts or behaviors is a high-risk period for suicide. Moreover, the needs of a subset of youths at increased risk for suicide are not being met by community mental health providers, resulting in frequent emergency department (ED) visits. While undertaking a quality improvement effort, the authors' health care system piloted caring text messages to support youths discharged from the hospital after screening positive for suicide risk in the ED. The text-messaging intervention was feasible and acceptable, and youths reported that the messages helped reduce their suicidal thoughts and behaviors postdischarge. The results of this text-messaging intervention prompted the Maryland Department of Health to offer a similar intervention to all Marylanders.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide prevention; Adolescent suicide; Caring contacts; Suicide Intervention Assisted by Messages (SIAM); Text messaging intervention