Impact of a Clinician and Lived Experience Peer Worker Co-Led Aftercare Program on Suicide Risk Factors

Individuals who attempt suicide are at a greater risk of future suicide. Aftercare programs that provide assertive follow-up for individuals following a suicide attempt or at high risk for suicide are becoming increasingly recognized as a critical component of suicide prevention. Research evaluating aftercare programs that utilize the lived experience peer workforce is lacking. This study assessed change in factors associated with suicide risk in a clinician and peer worker co-led community-based aftercare program for people who had attended a hospital emergency department following a suicide attempt or for high risk of suicide.

One-hundred and sixty-seven program participants (58.1% females, M_age = 34.07) completed measures of hopelessness, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, depression, anxiety, stress, psychological distress, and self-reported suicide risk, at baseline and at week-4.

Significant reductions were observed in hopelessness, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological distress (all p < 0.001). Self-reported suicide risk did not significantly change.

The findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of an aftercare program incorporating the lived experience peer workforce in mitigating factors associated with suicide risk. Future research utilizing larger samples, control groups and broader outcome measures is needed to confirm these results.

The study is part of a larger trial registered by the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12618001701213.