Clinician Perspectives on Suicide Safety Planning and Its Implementation

“Suicide is a major public health issue and the 11th leading cause of death in the United States (Curtin, 2020; Garnett & Curtin, 2023; Stone et al., 2023).”

“Based on the SPI (Stanley & Brown, 2012), the survey then assessed what elements clinicians utilized regularly in their practice, with options to select any of the following choices: (1) warning signs; (2) internal coping strategies that provide distraction; (3) people and social settings that…”

“…and is effective in reducing suicide attempts by nearly half and more than doubling the odds of successful linkage with ambulatory mental health services compared to usual ED care over the subsequent 6 months (Ferguson et al., 2022; Rogers et al., 2022; Stanley et al., 2018; Zonana et al., 2018).”

“Among those with past-year suicidal ideation or attempts, only 29.5% utilize any type of mental health care in the community (Hom et al., 2015).”

“Underserved populations, such as ethnic and racial minority youth, are some of the most affected (Bridge et al., 2018; Ramchand et al., 2021; Sheftall et al., 2022), with Black and Indigenous youth experiencing some of the steepest increases in suicide in recent years (Bridge et al., 2023; Curtin &…”

“We further evaluated potential implementation barriers and facilitators to using safety planning based on the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR) (Damschroder & Lowery, 2013).”

“Underserved populations, such as ethnic and racial minority youth, are some of the most affected (Bridge et al., 2018; Ramchand et al., 2021; Sheftall et al., 2022), with Black and Indigenous youth experiencing some of the steepest increases in suicide in recent years (Bridge et al., 2023; Curtin &…”

“Underserved populations, such as ethnic and racial minority youth, are some of the most affected (Bridge et al., 2018; Ramchand et al., 2021; Sheftall et al., 2022), with Black and Indigenous youth experiencing some of the steepest increases in suicide in recent years (Bridge et al., 2023; Curtin &…”

“…such as ethnic and racial minority youth, are some of the most affected (Bridge et al., 2018; Ramchand et al., 2021; Sheftall et al., 2022), with Black and Indigenous youth experiencing some of the steepest increases in suicide in recent years (Bridge et al., 2023; Curtin & Hedegaard, 2021).”

“Even among those who do make it to outpatient care, only 40% return to that care more than once (Lizardi & Stanley, 2010).”

“…and is effective in reducing suicide attempts by nearly half and more than doubling the odds of successful linkage with ambulatory mental health services compared to usual ED care over the subsequent 6 months (Ferguson et al., 2022; Rogers et al., 2022; Stanley et al., 2018; Zonana et al., 2018).”

“Suicide is a major public health issue and the 11th leading cause of death in the United States (Curtin, 2020; Garnett & Curtin, 2023; Stone et al., 2023).”

“Research in the VA found considerable variability in the quality of completed safety plans, and that follow-up calls or contacts were rarely documented (Gamarra et al., 2015).”

“…such as ethnic and racial minority youth, are some of the most affected (Bridge et al., 2018; Ramchand et al., 2021; Sheftall et al., 2022), with Black and Indigenous youth experiencing some of the steepest increases in suicide in recent years (Bridge et al., 2023; Curtin & Hedegaard, 2021).”

“Qualitative research has found the SPI to be an acceptable and helpful intervention for patients (Stanley et al., 2016).”

“In 2021, there were 48,183 suicide deaths in the US ( CDC WONDER , n.d.; Curtin et al., 2022).”

“…safety planning as a promising practice, there was underlying variability in how it was defined and implemented (Bowden et al., 2022), with another study reporting that although clinicians were comfortable with safety planning, 70% indicated a need for further training (Moscardini et al., 2020).”

“Across these studies, evidence supports the value of psychoeducational interventions, psychotherapeutic approaches, brief contact interventions including safety planning, and means restriction (Mann et al., 2021).”

“…and is effective in reducing suicide attempts by nearly half and more than doubling the odds of successful linkage with ambulatory mental health services compared to usual ED care over the subsequent 6 months (Ferguson et al., 2022; Rogers et al., 2022; Stanley et al., 2018; Zonana et al., 2018).”

“One study found that although clinicians considered safety planning to be a useful tool, most were not convinced that it is effective in reducing the risk of imminent suicidal behavior (Reyes-Portillo et al., 2019).”

“…and is effective in reducing suicide attempts by nearly half and more than doubling the odds of successful linkage with ambulatory mental health services compared to usual ED care over the subsequent 6 months (Ferguson et al., 2022; Rogers et al., 2022; Stanley et al., 2018; Zonana et al., 2018).”

“Bowden et al., 2022 found that while all clinicians in a national survey endorsed safety planning as a promising practice, there was underlying variability in how it was defined and implemented (Bowden et al., 2022), with another study reporting that although clinicians were comfortable with safety…”

“Given this service gap, research must prioritize the implementation of effective and impactful interventions while people are engaged in care in addition to developing and testing interventions that will promote continuity of care for those at risk (Haroz et al., 2023).”

“However, safety planning is frequently delivered by individuals facing barriers to implementation including insufficient training and time [23,24], which poses a risk to safety plan quality and efficacy.”

“…that there are effective interventions available to work with clients at risk or who are suicidal (Doupnik et al., 2020; Glenn et al., 2019; Haroz et al., 2024; Mann et al., 2021; Stanley & Brown, 2012); and, there is evidence that trainings can improve knowledge, comfort/con fi…”