TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - The effects of Australia's first residential peer-support Suicide Prevention and Recovery Centre (SPARC)
JO  - Crisis
A1  - Oostermeijer, Sanne
A1  - Morgan, Amy
A1  - Cheesmond, Natalie
A1  - Green, Rachel
A1  - Reavley, Nicola
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - AIM: This paper reports preliminary evidence of the impacts of Australia's first residential peer-support service for people at risk of suicide. <br><br>METHODS: Psychological distress was measured preintervention, postintervention, and after 3 months and analyzed using paired t tests. Interviews were held postintervention and were analyzed using thematic analysis. <br><br>RESULTS: Psychological distress significantly improved from preintervention to postintervention (n = 16, d = 1.77) and at follow-up (n = 5, d = 1.12). Interviews (n = 10) indicated that participants experienced improvements in mental well-being and feelings of connectedness, respite, and confidence to engage with other services. The peer-support workers were key. Some participants felt that the location was too remote, too little information was given, and a longer stay would have been preferable. Limitations: The study did not include a control group, the sample was relatively small, and participants may have been subject to socially desirable answers. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that residential peer-support services potentially offer a valuable alternative to conventional inpatient treatment for people at risk of suicide.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0227-5910
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000939
ID  - ref1
ER  -