Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm.
BACKGROUND
Telephone helplines are considered to play an important role in preventing suicide and self-harm among callers in distress. However, inconsistency in the methods of evaluating such services has limited the firm conclusions that can be drawn.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a UK-based helpline from a service user and helpline worker perspective.


METHODS
Callers were asked about their mental state at the beginning and end of the call with a short questionnaire. Helpline workers were surveyed about their experiences of using the questionnaire as part of routine service provision.


RESULTS
The helpline was successful at reducing suicidal and self-harming ideation. The short questionnaire method was also successfully integrated into routine practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluating the efficacy of helplines can be successfully achieved using the short questionnaire method.
1 School of Psychology, University of South Wales, Treforest, UK.
Philip
P
Tyson
1 School of Psychology, University of South Wales, Treforest, UK.
Claire
C
Law
2 Rethink Mental-Illness, Gloucester, UK.
Sophie
S
Reed
2 Rethink Mental-Illness, Gloucester, UK.
Emma
E
Johnsey
3 Public Health Medicine, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester, UK.
Olusola
O
Aruna
4 Public Health Improvement, Plymouth Community Healthcare, Plymouth, UK.
Sue
S
Hall
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006282:Health Personnel; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013689:Telephone; D006113:United Kingdom; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
evaluation; helpline; self-harm; suicide