A Health System/Community Partnership for Enhanced Outreach to Prevent Suicide Attempts

Launched by MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · Apr 27, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way to help people who have had thoughts of suicide after they leave the emergency department. The goal is to see if an enhanced outreach intervention (EOI) from a community organization called Samaritans of Boston can reduce behaviors related to suicide, help people keep attending their mental health treatments, and find out if this outreach is acceptable and can be done effectively. Participants will be divided into two groups: one group will receive the usual care from the hospital along with weekly check-ins from Samaritans for 12 weeks, while the other group will only receive the usual hospital care.

To participate, you need to be currently treated for suicidal thoughts in the emergency department and have a smartphone for communication. You should also be comfortable reading in English and willing to share some personal information with the research team and Samaritans. If you join, you can expect regular phone calls or texts to discuss your feelings and coping strategies, as well as messages of support. This study is not yet recruiting, but it aims to provide valuable insights into how we can better support individuals in crisis after an emergency visit.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Currently a patient being treated and evaluated by psychiatry service in an MGB ED
• • 2. Participants enrolled in another study (NCT05671133; PI Nock) conducted by the research team who fall into the top 50% of risk based on the suicide risk prediction algorithm used in that study
• • 3. Able to read English
• • 4. Ownership of a smartphone (iOS or Android) and consistent access to their smartphone following discharge from the current treatment unit or program; ability to be reliably contacted
• • 5. Willing to provide contact information for collateral contact
• • 6. Willing to share contact information and key clinical information with Samaritans of Boston
• • 7. Consent to unencrypted text or email communications
• • 8. Willing to provide social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) for study compensation
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Any factor that impairs an individual's ability to comprehend and effectively participate in informed consent, including the presence of gross cognitive impairment due to florid psychosis, intellectual disability, dementia, or acute intoxication
• • 2. Presence of extremely agitated or violent behavior at the time of consent or enrollment