Psychosocial interventions targeting suicidality within inpatient psychiatry: a scoping review

The week following discharge from inpatient psychiatry is a time of exponentially increased risk of death by suicide among people diagnosed with a mental illness. Yet, a significant number of individuals do not receive timely outpatient follow-up upon being discharged from hospital. Psychosocial interventions that target suicidality initiated within inpatient psychiatry may help to prepare individuals for this vulnerable transition.

To explore the range and nature of research on psychosocial interventions targeting suicidality in the context of inpatient psychiatry and to identify the components and intended mechanisms of studied interventions as well as their mode and dose of delivery, adaptations, outcomes measured, and overall results.

This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and in line with the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping reviews. Studies that described psychosocial interventions initiated in adult psychiatric inpatient units aimed at addressing suicidality were included.

A total of 77 articles were included in the review, most of which employed quantitative research methods, were published after 2019, and were conducted in the United States. Most interventions studied were based on cognitive behavioral approaches, incorporated a review of factors that led to a person's suicidality, strategies for managing emotions, and safety planning. Participants' narratives as to what was helpful for them centred around the themes of being acknowledged, being listened to, and increasing self-awareness.

Cognitive behavioral therapy underlies most interventions targeting suicidality in inpatient psychiatry. There is a need for research that explores patients' experiences of engaging in specific suicide targeted interventions and that sheds light on the relational aspect of interventions targeting suicidality.