Health & Communication

Journal Article 1

FCC: 988 is New Hotline for Suicide Prevention

The Federal Communication Commission just passed the proposal for a 3 digit suicide prevention hotline number, 988. It will take 2 years to implement, and Telecom and voice service companies must have the number by July 16th, 2022.

Bote, J. (2020, July 17). FCC: 988 is new hotline for suicide prevention. Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://global-factiva-com.proxy.library.vcu.edu/ga/default.aspx

A Novel Brief Therapy for Patients Who Attempt Suicide: A 24-months Follow-Up Randomized Controlled Study of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP)

• Patients who were seeing a psychiatrist for a suicide attempt were told about this study and were able to chose whether or not to be contacted for it. Those who were chosen started with three 60-90 minute sessions per week.
• The first session consisted of a video recorded interview of the patient pertaining to their reasons behind wanting to commit suicide.
• The second session allowed the patient to watch the video of the first session and a handout was given to them to write down their personal comments about it.
• The third session was used to discuss the handout, and to come up with their long term goals, individual warning signs, and safety strategies. They were also given crisis cards as a resource for who to contact during a crisis.
• Over the next 24 months, the patients were sent semi-standardized letters. During the first year it was every 3 months and the second year it was every 6 months.

Gysin-Maillart, A., Schwab, S., Soravia, L., Megert, M., & Michel, K. (2016). A Novel Brief Therapy for Patients Who Attempt Suicide: A 24-months Follow-Up Randomized Controlled Study of the Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP). PLoS Medicine, 13(3), e1001968. https://link-gale-com.proxy.library.vcu.edu/apps/doc/A476896862/CWI?u=viva_vcu&sid=CWI&xid=cc3b07c4

Inform: Give relevant information without the intent to influence decisions.

- There are multiple different kinds of resources available to anyone who is feeling suicidal or homicidal

- Inform individuals of suicidal warning signs - what to look out for

- Inform concerned loved ones of the different ways to approach the conversation

- Know that individuals experiencing these feelings are already feeling judged, so try to avoid any phrases that may come across as judgemental because the individual might feel embarrassed and avoid continuing the conversation

- Inform the individual that you care and be honest with your feelings as well so that they feel connected in the conversation

Persuade: Using information to help change opinions and attitudes

- Allow the individual to vent to you about the things that make them think about committing suicide

- Let them know that you are there for them

- Inform them that they have a good support system

- Make the individual comfortable about sharing their feelings

- Offer hope, let them know that the situation can always improve

- Maintain eye contact and make sure the person feels that you are present in the conversation

- Do not minimize or make them feel as though their thoughts/problems are unimportant

Study in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7YwrHNylTg

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYg2FeOtpSQ

Start from 12:07