Postcards, green cards and telephone calls: Therapeutic contact with individuals following self-harm
Open accessAbstract
Self-harm is a major public health problem and universal interventions such as contacting individuals by post or telephone following a self-harm episode have received much attention recently. They may also appeal to service providers because of their low cost. However, a widespread introduction of these interventions cannot be justified without a better understanding of whether they work, and if so how.
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Specific follow-up strategies shown effective in reducing repeat suicide attempts and/or suicide include caring letters, postcards, crisis cards, and short- or long-term phone or in-person contacts after hospital discharge.
“Specific follow-up strategies that have been shown to be effective in reducing repeat suicide attempts and/or suicide include the sending of caring letters,81 or postcards,82 crisis cards,83 or short- or long-term phone or in-person contacts after hospital discharge.84,85”
From Evidence-based youth suicide prevention and intervention in pediatric primary care settings. (2024) · cites this paper as [83]
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- Authors
- Kapur, N., Cooper, J., Bennewith, O., Gunnell, D., & Hawton, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Kapur, Navneet
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2010-07
- Volume
- 197
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-7
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- OpenAlex
- W2105221682
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (RP-PG-0606-1247)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007543/1)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- self-harm, postcards, telephone calls, green card, universal interventions, therapeutic contact, low-cost interventions, intervention effectiveness
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Long-Term Care, Postal Service, Telephone, Self-Injurious Behavior, Remote Consultation
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