Development of Mental Health First Aid Guidelines for Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour: a Delphi Study

This research was conducted using the Delphi methodology, a method of reaching consensus in a panel of experts. Experts recruited to panels included 22 professionals, 10 people who had been suicidal in the past & 6 carers of people who had been suicidal in the past. Statements about how to assist someone thinking about suicide were sourced through a systematic search of both professional & lay literature. Of 114 statements presented to the panels, 30 were accepted. These were used to develop the guidelines which the authors say will be useful in the revision of mental health first aid curricula & suicide intervention training programs. (16 refs.)