Assessing and Responding to Suicide Risk in Children and Young People: Understanding Views and Experiences of Helpline Staff.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Suicide is a key issue impacting children and young people. Helplines offer unique benefits, such as anonymity, varied communication avenues and low cost, which help to promote help-seeking behaviour. The aim of this study was to explore the views and experiences of helpline organisations of identifying, assessing, and managing suicide risk among children and young people.

Methods

Thirteen professionals from three UK-based helplines and online counselling services took part in semi-structured interviews between November 2020 and January 2021 via Zoom. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Thematic Analysis.

Results

Three superordinate themes were identified: (i) Starting conversations about suicide; (ii) Identifying and responding to "im

SUBMITTER: Williams AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9518595 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature