Manual for Support Groups for Survivors of a Suicide Attempt
Manual for Support Groups for Survivors of a Suicide Attempt
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
As a national leader in the field of suicide prevention, in 2011 Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center started a support group for survivors of suicide attempt(s), addressing a high-priority local need. The support group is an eight-week group for those over 18 years old with a history of at least 1 suicide attempt, that offers a safe, non-judgmental place for people to talk about the feelings that led them to attempt suicide and the impact that their attempt had on their lives. The group provides an opportunity for its participants to connect with peers who share similar experiences, which is an important part of healing. In addition to increasing connectedness, the group includes an emphasis on tools and skills (e.g., coping skills through safety planning) that will help members stay safe from a future suicide attempt. The goals of the program were to maintain participants’ safety and manage risk, reduce internalized/perceived stigma, increase coping skills as they relate to suicide thoughts, and increase connectedness. The outcomes measured used included, were the Beck Hopelessness Scale (Beck et al., 1974), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (Beck & Steer, 1991), Resilience Appraisals Scale (Johnson et al., 2010), and Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (Van Orden et al., 2012), along with an internally developed survey and safety plan measure. The Manual for Support Groups for Survivors of Suicide Attempt(s) serves to guide individuals and organizations in developing and implementing an attempt survivors’ support group in their communities and since 2015, we have trained both national and international agencies. Since making the manual available to download on our website, the manual has been downloaded over 3,112 times in 58 countries.
As a national leader in the field of suicide prevention, in 2011 Didi Hirsch’s Suicide Prevention Center started a support group for survivors of suicide attempt(s), addressing a high-priority local need. The support group is an eight-week group for those over 18 years old with a history of at least 1 suicide attempt, that offers a safe, non-judgmental place for people to talk about the feelings that led them to attempt suicide and the impact that their attempt had on their lives. The group provides an opportunity for its participants to connect with peers who share similar experiences, which is an important part of healing. In addition to increasing connectedness, the group includes an emphasis on tools and skills (e.g., coping skills through safety planning) that will help members stay safe from a future suicide attempt. The goals of the program were to maintain participants’ safety and manage risk, reduce internalized/perceived stigma, increase coping skills as they relate to suicide thoughts, and increase connectedness. The outcomes measured used included, were the Beck Hopelessness Scale (Beck et al., 1974), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (Beck & Steer, 1991), Resilience Appraisals Scale (Johnson et al., 2010), and Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (Van Orden et al., 2012), along with an internally developed survey and safety plan measure. The Manual for Support Groups for Survivors of Suicide Attempt(s) serves to guide individuals and organizations in developing and implementing an attempt survivors’ support group in their communities and since 2015, we have trained both national and international agencies. Since making the manual available to download on our website, the manual has been downloaded over 3,112 times in 58 countries.
Type | Education/Training, Screening, Treatment/Services |
Setting | Online, Community, Health care facility, Mental health facility, Residential facility |
People | Individuals with Severe Mental Illness/Severe Emotional Disturbance (SMI/SED), Survivors of suicide attempt |
Prevention Level | Prevention, Maintenance |
Languages | English |
Study Method | Quantitative |
Implementer Requirement | Adults, Experts through lived experience, Peer consultants |
Training Requirement | Yes |
Delivery Options | In person, Virtual |
Topics | Reduce risk factors, Promote protective factors, Improve community factors, Improve suicide care (postvention) |
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