Follow Up
How
After your initial contact with a person experiencing thoughts of suicide, and after you’ve connected them with the immediate support systems they need, make sure to follow-up with them to see how they’re doing. Leave a message, send a text, or give them a call.
The follow-up step is a great time to check in with them to see if there is more you are capable of helping with or if there are things you’ve said you would do and haven’t yet had the chance to get done for the person.
Why
This type of contact can continue to increase their feelings of connectedness and share your ongoing support. There is evidence that even a simple form of reaching out, like sending a caring postcard, can potentially reduce their risk for suicide.
Studies have shown a reduction in the number of deaths by suicide when following up was involved with high risk populations after they were discharge from acute care services. Studies have also shown that brief, low cost intervention and supportive, ongoing contact may be an important part of suicide prevention. Please visit our Follow-Up Matters page for more.
Research:
NIMH is committed to supporting research to improve the ability to identify who is at risk for suicide and develop effective treatments for at-risk individuals. As the government lead in the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Prioritized Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention, NIMH has helped shape priorities in suicide prevention research.
For example, NIMH-supported researchers continue to study:
Long-term risk factors, such as childhood events like trauma
Immediate risk factors, such as mental health and recent life events
How genes can either increase risk of suicide or make someone more resilient to loss and hardships
Treatments for patients with treatment-resistant depression and active suicidal ideation (e.g., ketamine infusions)
Instruments to detect suicidal ideation and behavior
Visit the NIMH website to learn more about NIMH’s research priorities and recent research on suicide prevention.
For additional information about suicide prevention efforts, visit Zero Suicide: http://zerosuicide.sprc.org.