Nebraska Hospital Program Sees Success in Preventing Teenage Suicide
A hospital in Nebraska has implemented a unique program that matches teenage suicide survivors with a “caring contact” to provide ongoing support and prevent further suicide attempts. The program, called Caring Contacts, involves sending handwritten, personalized notes from the hospital’s social work staff to the discharged teens at specific intervals throughout the year. The program has seen positive results, with only 7% of participants returning for an additional suicide attempt, compared to the national average of 27%.
Caring Contacts was inspired by a similar program for adult survivors of suicide. The program was set to begin in May 2020, just around the time when the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting children’s mental health. According to Sabrina Schalley, director of care coordination at Children’s Nebraska, children and teens are experiencing depression and anxiety at higher rates than ever before.
The program offers follow-up care to patients who receive a mental health assessment in the emergency department at Children’s Nebraska. Approximately 98% of families agree to participate in the program. The notes are sent to the patients one month, two months, three months, six months, nine months, and one year after discharge, and the patients are able to write back if they choose.
The impact of the program goes beyond the patients. The social workers who write the notes also benefit from receiving responses from the teens and their families, providing them with meaningful connections and feedback on their care.
Caring Contacts has been well-received by both patients and staff. The tangible nature of the handwritten cards, along with the intentional and low-tech communication, makes a difference in the lives of the patients. The program has been successful in normalizing the struggles of mental health and emphasizing the importance of ongoing treatment.
Children’s Nebraska hopes to share the success of Caring Contacts with other hospitals and organizations. They have created a replication kit to guide other facilities in implementing a similar program. The handwritten notes serve as a powerful reminder to the teens that someone cares about them, and they have the potential to save lives in moments of crisis.
In a high-tech world, the impact of written words from a caring adult stands out and makes a difference. Caring Contacts is a testament to the power of human connection and ongoing support in preventing teenage suicide.