TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Assessing and responding to suicide risk in children and young people: understanding views and experiences of helpline staff
JO  - International journal of environmental research and public health
A1  - Williams, A. Jess
A1  - Kloess, Juliane A.
A1  - Gill, Chloe
A1  - Michail, Maria
SP  - e10887
EP  - e10887
VL  - 19
IS  - 17
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a key issue impacting children and young people. Helplines offer unique benefits, such as anonymity, varied communication avenues and low cost, which help to promote help-seeking behaviour. The aim of this study was to explore the views and experiences of helpline organisations of identifying, assessing, and managing suicide risk among children and young people. <br><br>METHODS: Thirteen professionals from three UK-based helplines and online counselling services took part in semi-structured interviews between November 2020 and January 2021 via Zoom. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Thematic Analysis. <br><br>RESULTS: Three superordinate themes were identified: (i) Starting conversations about suicide; (ii) Identifying and responding to “imminent” suicide risk; and (iii) Responses to suicide risk in relation to safeguarding. Limitations: Recruitment was limited by COVID-19 due to the demands needed from helplines at this time. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight not only the different types and range of services helpline organisations offer to young people who might be at risk of suicide, but most importantly the distinct role they have in young people’s help-seeking pathway.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1661-7827
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710887
ID  - ref1
ER  -