Every year in the United States about 1 million people make a suicide attempt and more than 38,000 die by suicide. The risk of suicide is highest among individuals with mental illness who have been hospitalized due to suicidal thoughts or behaviors, yet there are few interventions known to reduce suicide risk in this population. This study will develop and pilot test a peer mentorship intervention by which trained peer professionals will use their own personal experience with recovery from mental illness to instill hope and belongingness in high-risk patients and provide additional support to prevent future suicidal thoughts or behaviors. The specific aims of the study are to: (1) develop a peer mentorship intervention to reduce suicide risk among patients psychiatrically hospitalized with suicidal ideation or following a suicide attempt; (2) Conduct a randomized controlled pilot study to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of the peer mentorship intervention in preparation for a larger efficacy trial; and (3) an exploratory aim will be to measure potential mediators and moderators of intervention effectiveness in terms of belongingness, burdensomeness, and hopelessness according to the interpersonal theory of suicide.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
79
Patients who are working with a peer specialist will have their sessions audio taped and reviewed by research staff for training purposes and to ensure that peer specialists are following protocol.
The enhancement to usual care will occur at the 3 and 6 month follow-up assessments, where participants will be assessed to determine whether they require any additional referral information for follow-up care. If referral information is indicated, the patient will be provided a list of mental health treatment providers in their area.
University of Michigan Inpatient Psychiatry Unit
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital
Ferndale, Michigan, United States
Intervention acceptability (median number of peer mentorship contacts at 3 months post-discharge is at least 4, as well as by satisfaction questionnaires.)
Patients' willingness and satisfaction with participating in the intervention as a measure of intervention acceptability. Measured by at least 70% of participants in both study arms completing follow-up measures at 6 months, the median number of peer mentorship contacts at 3 months post-discharge is at least 4, as well as by satisfaction questionnaires.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months post-baseline
Intervention feasibility (Study team's ability to deliver the intervention)
Study team's ability to deliver the intervention as a measure of feasibility. Measured by at least 50% of eligible patients choosing to enroll in the study, at least 80% of participants assigned to the peer mentorship arm meeting with a peer specialist prior to hospital discharge, at least 70% of participants in both study arms completing follow-up measures at 6 months, and the study meeting its enrollment goal of 60 patients in 12 months.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months post-baseline
Current suicidal ideation (measured by the Beck Suicide Scale (BSS)
Patient's current suicidal ideation as measured by the Beck Suicide Scale (BSS)
Time frame: 3 and 6 months post-baseline
Peak suicidal ideation (measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSR-S)
Patient's peak suicidal ideation since the last visit as measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSR-S)
Time frame: 3 and 6 months post-baseline
Suicide attempts (measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
Patient's suicide attempts since the last visit as measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Time frame: 3 and 6 months post-baseline
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