A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Volunteer Mentorship for Young Adults With Self-Harm Behaviors Using a Quasi-Experimental Design.
BACKGROUND
Studies have shown that postdischarge care for self-harm patients is effective in reducing repeated suicidal behaviors. Little is known about whether volunteer support can help reduce self-harm repetition and improve psychosocial well-being.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the efficacy of volunteer support in preventing repetition of self-harm.


METHODS
This study used a quasi-experimental design by assigning self-harm patients admitted to the emergency departments to an intervention group with volunteer support and treatment as usual (TAU) for 9 months and to a control group of TAU. Outcome measures include repetition of self-harm, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and level of depressive and anxiety symptoms.


RESULTS
A total of 74 cases were recruited (38 participants; 36 controls). There were no significant differences in age, gender, and clinical condition between the two groups at the baseline. The intervention group showed significant improvements in hopelessness and depressive symptoms. However, the number of cases of suicide ideation and of repetition of self-harm episodes was similar for both groups at the postintervention period.


CONCLUSIONS
Postdischarge care provided by volunteers showed significant improvement in hopelessness and depression. Volunteers have been commonly involved in suicide prevention services. Further research using rigorous methods is recommended for improving service quality in the long term.
1 Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.|2 Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.
Yik-Wa
YW
Law
1 Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.|2 Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.
Paul S F
PS
Yip
2 Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.
Carmen C S
CC
Lai
2 Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.
Chi Leung
CL
Kwok
1 Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.|2 Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, PRC.
Paul W C
PW
Wong
3 Department of Psychiatry, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, PRC.
Kwong-Sun
KS
Liu
3 Department of Psychiatry, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, PRC.
Pauline W L
PW
Ng
4 United Christian Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Hong Kong, PRC.
Carmen W M
CW
Liao
5 Accident and Emergency Department, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, PRC.
Tai-Wai
TW
Wong
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014838:Volunteers; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
postdischarge intervention; quasi-experimental design; self-harm; suicide; volunteer