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  • Title: Third-party callers to the national suicide prevention lifeline: Seeking assistance on behalf of people at imminent risk of suicide.
    Author: Gould MS, Lake AM, Kleinman M, Galfalvy H, McKeon R.
    Journal: Suicide Life Threat Behav; 2022 Feb; 52(1):37-48. PubMed ID: 34032311.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To assist suicidal individuals, people in their social network are often directed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline). The study's objective was to provide information on third-party calls made out of concern for another person. METHOD: Reports on 172 third-party calls concerning individuals deemed to be at imminent suicide risk were completed by 30 crisis counselors at six Lifeline crisis centers. RESULTS: Third-party callers were most likely to be calling about a family member or friend and were significantly more likely than persons at risk to be female and middle-aged or older. Counselors were able to collect information about suicide risk, and counselors and third-parties were nearly always able to identify at least one intervention to aid the person at risk. Emergency services were contacted on 58.1 percent of the calls, which represents a somewhat higher rate of emergency services involvement than previously reported on imminent risk calls placed by the person at risk. Characteristics of third-parties and persons-at-risk each predicted emergency service involvement, but counselor characteristics did not. Non-emergency interventions were implemented on 68.6 percent of calls. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals calling the Lifeline when they are worried about someone are provided a range of interventions which can supplement, and at times replace, calling 911.
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