Resource Tag: VOLUNTEERS

Crisis line volunteers are critical to nationwide suicide prevention efforts as they provide free support services to those experiencing emotional distress or suicidality. Most crisis lines rely on volunteers for call-taking, however, the experiences of these volunteers and the impact of call-taking on their mental wellbeing remains understudied. The current study aimed to explore mental […]

Background: For patients with self-harm behaviors, the urge to hurt themselves persists after hospital discharge, leading to costly readmissions and even death. Hence, postdischarge intervention programs that reduce self-harm behavior among patients should be part of a cogent community mental health care policy. Objective: We aimed to determine whether a combination of a self-help mobile […]

Background: There is a need to develop new ways to reach and engage people at risk for suicidal behavior. Suicide prevention outreach on social media (SPOSM) represents a promising strategy, and trained volunteers could potentially provide the needed human resources. Aims: We aimed to investigate users’ perception of SPOSM delivered by volunteers of the Israeli Sahar organization and […]

Crisis line volunteers are critical to nationwide suicide prevention efforts as they provide free support services to those experiencing emotional distress or suicidality. Most crisis lines rely on volunteers for call-taking, however, the experiences of these volunteers and the impact of call-taking on their mental wellbeing remains understudied. The current study aimed to explore mental […]

Purpose: Psychological distress and related factors in suicide prevention supporters during the COVID-19 pandemic were clarified. Methods: A web-based survey for supporters from helplines or psychiatric institutions was conducted from May to July 2021. It included items about profession, stress and anxiety, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Results: 818 participants were analyzed. Psychological distress […]

Background Opposing risks have been identified between different prosocial activities, with volunteering having been linked to better mental health while caregiving has been associated with higher prevalence and incidence of depression. This study explored suicide risk of people engaged in prosocial activities of caregiving and/or volunteering. Methods A Census-based record linkage study of 1,018,000 people […]

Samaritan listening volunteers provide emotional support to people in distress or suicidal. Samaritans’ has high volunteer turnover, which may be due to burnout. This study evaluated the role of demographic and psychosocial factors in predicting Samaritans listening volunteers’ burnout and health status. Samaritans’ listening volunteers (n = 216) from seven branches across UK completed an online survey […]

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. Aim: This study investigated the efficacy of volunteer support in preventing repetition of self-harm. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design by […]

This document presents the 3-year plan for suicide prevention in Bristol. The plan includes 9 action points: publishing an annual audit report; monitoring local media coverage & taking action to improve reporting; monitoring local hotspots, railways, & prescriptions for toxic medicines; reviewing & developing a complementary mental health promotion strategy; developing strategies for high-risk groups; […]

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This study tests the association of neighbourhood-level volunteerism with mortality. A cohort study of 1996 New Zealand census respondents aged 25-74 years was conducted using multilevel Poisson regression analyses. Neighbourhood measures included indices of social capital & deprivation. Adjusting for just age & marital status, the mortality rate ratios for people living in the quintile […]

This presentation focussed on the experience of starting & continuing the Lifeline Suicide Intervention Program at the Suffolk County Jail in Boston. One of the aims of the presentation was to demonstrate a peer-level program can be supportive of, & cooperative with, professional staff & consultants at the institution. A profile of the 60+ detainne […]

This presentation explained the development of a suicide prevention centre in a state hospital in 1973. The selection process & training provided for staff & volunteers before they started to provide telephone services were described. The organizational & clinical problems that confronted the program were discussed. Other issues that were examined included the strengths & […]

In this workshop, a critical consideration of the role of the volunteer & the risks associated with using volunteers in crisis situations was undertaken. Questions were posed about the use of volunteers & their relationship with professionals.

This manuscript provides the text of a presentation given at the 1993 meeting of the International Association of Suicide Prevention. The presenter discussed the crucial task, for all voluntary organisations, of establishing the balance between authority & autonomy. The Samaritans were used as a case example.

This article discusses the volunteer work done by a man whose brother died by suicide. He describes the benefits that have resulted from doing work in suicide intervention & postvention.

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Published in “Back to the Future: Refocusing the Image of Suicide,” ed. by J L McIntosh

Published in “Back to the Future: Refocusing the Image of Suicide,” ed. by J L McIntosh

Published in “Back to the Future: Refocusing the Image of Suicide,” ed. by J L McIntosh