Citation

Tyson P, Law C, Reed S, Johnsey E, Aruna O, Hall S. Crisis 2016; 37(5): 353-360.

Affiliation

Public Health Improvement, Plymouth Community Healthcare, Plymouth, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000390

PMID

27278572

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Telephone helplines are considered to play an important role in preventing suicide and self-harm among callers in distress. However, inconsistency in the methods of evaluating such services has limited the firm conclusions that can be drawn. AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of a UK-based helpline from a service user and helpline worker perspective.

METHOD: Callers were asked about their mental state at the beginning and end of the call with a short questionnaire. Helpline workers were surveyed about their experiences of using the questionnaire as part of routine service provision.

RESULTS: The helpline was successful at reducing suicidal and self-harming ideation. The short questionnaire method was also successfully integrated into routine practice.

CONCLUSION: Evaluating the efficacy of helplines can be successfully achieved using the short questionnaire method.

Language: en