What strategies and interventions can we consider to directly address drivers of risk and instill a sense of hope?
You worked with a person to create contingency and safety plans based on what you learned in the assessment. What strategies and interventions can we consider to further care, directly address drivers of risk, and instill a sense of hope?
Following an assessment, people often immediately focus on safety planning for good reason – we have evidence from multiple studies and meta-analyses (see Nuji et al., 2021, Ferguson et al., 2021) that planning is really helpful. After all…
The purpose of a risk assessment isn’t prediction, it’s planning.
But, there is a reason why treatments and mini-interventions are placed first in the Respond core task.
It’s because safety planning is evidence-based and impactful and treatments and mini-interventions are where we focus on addressing the drivers of suicide with the person.
Within the SafeSide Framework, we focus on mini-interventions as an intervention because these tactics and phrases are accessible to staff in any role and can be used in the moment when supporting someone who is experiencing suicidal distress.
Below, we highlight one current and one emerging treatment that target drivers. Keep in mind that SafeSide is theory and treatment agnostic, so all treatments that address drivers such as feelings of burdensomeness and isolation, or that seek to give reasons for living through building a sense of hope or meaningfulness, are compatible with the framework.
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) is an evidence-based approach that shares core values with SafeSide in being a collaborative, person-centered treatment and targets the drivers of suicide. Working together, the clinician and the person with suicide risk first identify the drivers of the individual’s suicidal urges and then go on to address them. Treatment continues until the person finds relief, typically 8-12 sessions. CAMS has been tested extensively with adults and there have been some studies with adolescents as well. A recent meta-analysis of the evidence showed a reduction in suicide ideation following treatment (Swift et al., 2020).
- Coming soon! CAMS training will soon be available through SafeSide. Watch this space for more details.
- Related posts & resources:
- The THRIVE program is an emerging intervention that is currently being researched. It is a 60-minute narrative, technology-based, recovery-oriented intervention that aims to treat suicidal ideation and behavior by creating and maintaining connections – a vital protective factor. It may help people make meaning of their suicide crisis, reduce suicidal ideation, and increase their recovery compared to usual care. A key part of the THRIVE process is the development of a connections plan as well as a safety plan. If effective, THRIVE will help crisis stabilization centers deliver better recovery-focused care.
- While not yet available, the core idea of THRIVE around creating and maintaining connections can serve as a strategy that can target common drivers of suicidality like loneliness and hopelessness.