Coaching third parties for suicide prevention

Concerned allies often call crisis lines and other call centers about their loved ones' mental health. Callers to Coaching Into Care, a non-crisis call center, often report concerns about suicide risk in Veterans yet little is known about how best to support those callers. We conducted a documentation review to understand standard operating procedures, barriers, and opportunities for risk reduction.

Across 1,581 unique callers with an initial call over a 6 month period, 225 callers (14.2%) were identified for contact note review and coding.

Calls were frequently characterized by current suicidal ideation (62.7%), suicide attempts (24.0%), and access to lethal means (35.6%), although use of lethal means safety interventions was infrequently documented (12.9%). The majority of callers were coded as open to intervention (83.4%). After coaching, 16% of Veterans who were previously not connected to mental health care had connected to care in the community or VA.

There was substantial heterogeneity in assessments and interventions used, particularly related to documentation of access to lethal means; however, there is an opportunity to provide risk reduction education and communication skill building for family and friends of Veterans. Those closest to Veterans report being open to learning new ways to engage with Veterans around safety and mental wellness.