Do you want to find the latest evidence concerning mental ill-health in young people?
The Evidence Finder tool allows you to search published studies of treatment and prevention strategies for mental health and substance use issues in young people. You can use the filters to refine your search or browse by category.
Disorders - Suicide or self-harm behaviours
Ploeg, J., Ciliska, D., Dobbins, M., Hayward, S., Thomas, H., Underwood, J.
The purpose of this systematic overview was to summarize evidence about the effectiveness of adolescent suicide prevention curricula programs. A comprehensive search of published and unpublished literature resulted in retrieval of 11 relevant studies. The findings, of this overview indicate that there is currently insufficient evidence to support curriculum-based suicide prevention programs. The evidence suggests that there may be both beneficial and harmful effects of the programs on students. In most studies, knowledge related to suicide improved as a result of the programs. However, studies found both beneficial and harmful effects on attitudes related to suicide. One study found in increase in hopelessness and maladaptive coping for males following the intervention. The literature suggests that more broadly based comprehensive school health programs should be evaluated for their effectiveness in addressing the determinants of adolescent risk behaviour. [References: 33]
Canadian Journal of Public Health, Revue Canadienne de Sante Publique. 87(5) : 319-24
- Year: 1996
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
Rudd, M. D., Rajab, M. H., Orman, D. T., Joiner, T., Stulman, D. A., Dixon, W.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a time-limited, outpatient intervention targeting suicidal young adults. Participants (N = 264) were randomly assigned to either the experimental treatment or the control condition (i.e., treatment as usual). In addition to intake assessments, participants completed follow-ups at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Both treatment and control participants evidenced significant improvement across all outcome measures throughout the follow-up period. Reductions were reported in suicidal ideation and behavior, associated symptomatology, and experienced stress, along with marked improvement in self-appraised problem- solving ability. Results also indicated that the experimental treatment was more effective than treatment as usual at retaining the highest risk participants. Available data demonstrate the efficacy of a time-limited, outpatient intervention for suicidal young adults. Implications of current findings for intervention with and treatment of this population are discussed.
Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology., 64(1) : 179-190
- Year: 1996
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Problem solving therapy (PST)
Cotgrove, A., Zirinsky, L., Black, D., Weston, D.
Patients discharged from hospital following a suicide attempt were randomly allocated to either: (1) a treatment group receiving standard management plus a token allowing re-admission to hospital on demand; or (2) a control group receiving standard management only. The rates of further suicide attempts and the use of the token in the year following the initial attempt were monitored. Of the 47 adolescents who were allocated tokens, only three (6%) made further suicide attempts in the following year, and five (11%) made use of their tokens to gain admission into hospital. In the control group of 58 adolescents, seven (12%) made further suicide attempts. Although the differences between the groups did not reach the level of statistical significance, the results do suggest lower rates of repeat suicide attempts in the group which received the token, even if it was not used. A clinical assessment of the seriousness of the risk at the time of the first suicide attempt was predictive for later attempts (p=0.01).
Journal of Adolescence., 18(5) : 569-577
- Year: 1995
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Other service delivery and improvement interventions
Eggert, L. L., Thompson, E. A., Herting, J. R., Nicholas, L. J.
This study tested the efficacy of a school-based prevention program for reducing suicide potential among high-risk youth. A sample of 105 youth at suicide risk participated in a three-group, repeated-measures, intervention study. Participants in (1) an assessment plus 1-semester experimental program, (2) an assessment plus 2-semester experimental program, and (3) an assessment-only group were compared, using data from preintervention, 5-month, and 10-month follow-up assessments. All groups showed decreased suicide risk behaviors, depression, hopelessness, stress, and anger; all groups also reported increased self-esteem and network social support. Increased personal control was observed only in the experimental groups, and not in the assessment-only control group. The potential efficacy of the experimental school-based prevention program was demonstrated. The necessary and sufficient strategies for suicide prevention, however, need further study as the assessment-only group, who received limited prevention elements, showed improvements similar to those of the experimental groups.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 25(2) : 276-96
- Year: 1995
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
LaFromboise, T., Howard-Pitney, B.
Journal of Counseling Psychology, 42(4) : 479
- Year: 1995
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Skills training
McLeavey, B. C., Daly, R. J., Ludgate, J. W., Murray, C. M.
The present study evaluated the effectiveness of interpersonal problem- solving skills training (IPSST) for the treatment of self-poisoning patients. Thirty-nine self-poisoning patients were assigned randomly either to IPSST or to a control treatment condition (a brief problem-oriented approach). Both conditions were equally effective in reducing the number of presenting problems and in reducing hopelessness levels. However, the IPSST condition was significantly more effective than the control condition as determined by other outcome measures (measures of interpersonal cognitive problem solving, self-rated personal problem-solving ability, perceived ability to cope with ongoing problems, and self-perception). Follow-up studies showed maintenance of IPSST treatment gains at 6 months and a greater reduction of repetition of self-poisoning in the IPSST group at 1 year posttreatment.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior., 24(4) : 382-394
- Year: 1994
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Problem solving therapy (PST)
, Skills training
Klingman, A, Hochdorf, Z
The effectiveness of a school-based primary prevention psychological program is assessed in the present study. The program was designed to (a) improve students' distress-coping, (b) prepare them as "gatekeepers" with regard to self-destructive behavior of peers and (c) assess the program's face validity and social validity. The program was primarily based on cognitive-behavioral modification principles, procedures and techniques. Two hundred and thirty-seven students, drawn from six homeroom grade eight classes were randomly assigned to experimental and control (no intervention) conditions. The program consisted of seven units passed during twelve weekly one-hour sessions. Overall, the program had a positive effect on attitudes, emotions, knowledge and awareness of distress coping skills. In addition, it had some degree of face validity and social validity from the students' vantage point. These results lend support to the feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral, school-based prevention program for students' distress-coping enhancement.
Journal of Adolescence, 16(2) : 121-40
- Year: 1993
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Skills training
Orbach, I., Bar-Joseph, H.
Three-hundred ninety-three adolescents from six schools participated in a study aimed at examining the effectiveness of an experiential suicide prevention program with regard to suicidal tendencies, hopelessness, ego identity, and coping ability. The subjects were randomly divided into experimental (n = 215) and control (n = 178) groups. The experimental groups took part in seven weekly 2-hour meetings. The program was based on the notion that a gradual, controlled confrontation and exploration of inner experiences and life difficulties related to suicidal behavior accompanied by an emphasis on coping strategies can immunize against self-destructive feelings. In this pretest-posttest design, the students completed questionnaires of suicidal tendencies, hopelessness, ego identity, and coping ability before and after the program. The statistical analyses showed that the experimental groups were superior to the controls, with at least some of the dependent measures pointing out the effectiveness of the program.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 23(2) : 120-129
- Year: 1993
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation
Hazell, P., Lewin, T.
This study sought to evaluate postvention provided to two schools following student suicides. A risk index for suicidal behavior among exposed adolescents was devised. The index clearly differentiated high (n = 272) and low (n = 534) scorers on a range of outcome variables. While two-thirds of students attending postvention counselling had two or more putative risk factors for suicidal behavior, a further 231 uncounselled students had similar risk scores. Counselled students (n = 63) did not differ from matched controls (n = 63) at 8-month follow-up on a range of outcome variables. Measures to improve future postvention are discussed.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior., 23(2) : 101-109
- Year: 1993
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Vieland V, Whittle B, Garland A, Hicks R, Shaffer D
In a long-term follow-up of a study designed to assess the impact of school-based suicide prevention curricula on high school students, a group of 174 students from two high schools who were exposed to a prevention program were compared with a group of 207 control students from two additional high schools who were not exposed to the curriculum. A questionnaire, designed to measure the effects of the prevention program on actual help-seeking behaviors and suicide morbidity during the follow-up period, was administered 18 months after delivery of the program. The study failed to find convincing evidence of any program effect.
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 30(5) : 811-5
- Year: 1991
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation
Deykin E, Hsieh CC, Joshi N, McNamarra JJ.
This study evaluates an intervention program designed to reduce suicidal, self-destructive behavior among high-risk adolescents aged 13- to 17 years. The intervention combined a program of community education and direct service to youth who had required emergency care for self-inflicted injuries. The intervention program was effective in increasing subjects' compliance with medical regimen. To a lesser degree, the intervention also facilitated early help seeking among adolescents with suicidal thoughts and appeared to diminish slightly the overall occurrence of emergency room admissions for suicidal behaviors. However, the intervention program had no demonstrable effect on the occurrence of repeat suicidal episodes.
Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 7(2) : 88-95
- Year: 1986
- Problem: Suicide or self-harm behaviours (excluding non-suicidal self-harm)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Other service delivery and improvement interventions