Mitigating Suicide Risk for Children Discharged From a Psychiatric Hospital: A Treatment Intervention

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Mental Health Nursing
• Psychosocial Interventions

Background:

• Child psychiatric hospitals manage acute mental health crises.
• Suicide risk mitigation requires a multi-faceted approach.
• Parental involvement is crucial for successful child mental health treatment post-discharge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel treatment intervention for inpatient child psychiatric settings.
• To empower parents with skills to manage child suicide risk at home.
• To facilitate a safe transition for children from hospital to home environments.

Main Methods:

• Development of a parent-focused educational and coaching intervention.
• Focus on practical strategies for mitigating suicide risk in the home environment.
• Coaching provided to parents to implement necessary home modifications prior to child discharge.

Main Results:

• Parents gained knowledge and confidence in managing child suicide risk.
• Specific home safety changes were identified and implemented.
• The intervention aimed to reduce the likelihood of suicide attempts post-discharge.

Conclusions:

• Parental education and coaching are effective in suicide risk mitigation.
• Home environment modifications are essential for child psychiatric patient safety.
• This intervention model supports successful reintegration of children into their homes.