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More interaction through phone call may reduce suicidal attempts: Study

In Its Latest Invention The University Has Found That This Small Step May Minimise Future Suicide Up To 30 Percent.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Nabanita Chakorborty | Updated on: 08 May 2017, 02:38:52 PM
More interaction through phone call may reduce suicidal attempt: Study

New Delhi:

According to a latest study done by the researchers of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Brown University, a few phone calls to people having suicidal attempts may save their lives.

In its latest invention the University has found that this small step may minimise future suicides up to 30 percent.

A team of researchers have continued a year long trial all over the country in which around 1,376 patients took part having tendency to attempt suicide frequently.

"People who are suicidal are often disconnected and socially isolated", Michael Allen, professor at the CU Anschutz was quoted while discussing the issue.

"So any positive contact with the world can make them feel better", he stated further.

According to the study suicide is one of the biggest cause behind peoples' death in US. More than one million people become the victim of this deadly tendency.

We call them up to seven times to check on them after discharge," said Allen. "If they aren't there we leave a message and call again. For many, this telephone call is all they get, we don't need more brick and mortar buildings, we can reduce suicide risk by simply calling people on the phone", Allen further stated.

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Emmy Betz, an associate professor at CU Anschutz also shared his opinion regarding the matter.

Sharing his valuable remarks Betz said, "Telephone follow-up programs offer a great way to help bridge an ED visit to outpatient mental health care and hopefully save lives".

The trial took place in three phases to create three comparison groups. In the first phase, 497 patients received each ED's usual treatment as a control group.

In phase two universal screening was implemented and 377 patients received additional attention in the ED. In the third phase, 502 patients received the experimental intervention. Those patients received the same Phase 2 care including additional suicide screening from ED physicians, suicide prevention information from nurses and a personal safety plan they could fill out to prepare for times when they might begin harbouring suicidal thoughts again.

Over the next year, they also received periodic phone calls from trained providers, who would discuss suicide risk factors, personal values and goals, safety and future planning, treatment engagement, and problem solving.

After going through this three-phased examination process it has been found that the proportion of people attempting suicide declined significantly in the intervention group compared to treatment as usual.

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The middle group people who were receiving additional screening did not show any remarkable improvement in terms of dropping suicidal attempts compared to the treatment as usual group.

Hence, this new age revolutionary invention has been proved to be a most cheap and low tech intervention that has achieved a milestone to prevent this horrible life taking tendency.

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First Published : 08 May 2017, 02:18:00 PM

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