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Ellison K, Schleicher H, Sale E. Effectiveness of a Suicide Prevention Lethal Means Training Program for the General Public. Community Ment Health J 2024; 60:552-561. [PMID: 38064038 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01206-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
To evaluate the effectiveness of Conversations on Access to Lethal Means for the General Public (CALM-GP), a training for the public focusing on reducing access to lethal means during a crisis. The program adapted Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), developed for mental health practitioners and physicians. Participants completed pre/post surveys and follow-up surveys three months afterward. Measures included comfort and confidence in talking to a suicidal individual about access to lethal means, the likelihood of follow-up, and the number of lethal means conversations before and after the program. Surveys showed improvement in comfort and confidence talking about safely storing firearms and other lethal means and the likelihood of follow-up with that individual regarding access to lethal means. Results also indicated increased conversations participants had regarding suicide and lethal means at three-month follow-up. This evaluation suggests that CALM-GP is an effective suicide prevention and lethal means program for the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Ellison
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Hannah Schleicher
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Elizabeth Sale
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Boggs JM, Quintana LM, Beck A, Clinch S, Richardson L, Conley A, Richards JE, Betz ME. “Lock to Live” for firearm and medication safety: Feasibility and acceptability of a suicide prevention tool in a learning healthcare system. Front Digit Health 2022; 4:974153. [PMID: 36148209 PMCID: PMC9485577 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.974153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveFew patients with suicide risk are counseled on lethal means safety by health providers. This study tested the feasibility of different delivery methods for Lock to Live (L2L), a web-based decision aid of safe storage options for firearms and medications.MethodsPatients reporting suicide ideation on the PHQ9 depression screener during outpatient health visits were included. Invitation messages to visit L2L were sent via combinations of email, text, Electronic Health Record (EHR) message, mailed letter, or provider referral, followed by a survey about storage behavior and acceptability. Provider interviews evaluated logistical considerations and acceptability.ResultsThe population-based method reached 2,729 patients and the best method (EHR message plus 2 email reminders) had 11% uptake (L2L visitation rate). Provider referral had small reach (14 patients) and 100% uptake (all visited). Provider interviews identified several strategies to promote uptake including: EHR reminders, provider training, quality metrics with accountability, a clearly communicated lethal means screening/counseling policy, and strong organizational leadership support.ConclusionDespite the low uptake for population-based (11%), far more patients with suicide risk were engaged in the L2L tool through population-based outreach than provider-referral over the same time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Boggs
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research, Aurora, CO, United States
- Correspondence: Jennifer M. Boggs
| | - LeeAnn M. Quintana
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Arne Beck
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Samuel Clinch
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Behavioral Health Department, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Laura Richardson
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Behavioral Health Department, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Amy Conley
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Behavioral Health Department, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Julie E. Richards
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Heath Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Marian E. Betz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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Brandt CA, Workman TE, Farmer MM, Akgün KM, Abel EA, Skanderson M, Bean-Mayberry B, Zeng-Treitler Q, Mason M, Bastian LA, Goulet JL, Post LA. Documentation of Screening for Firearm Access by Healthcare Providers in the Veterans Healthcare System: A Retrospective Study. West J Emerg Med 2021; 22:525-532. [PMID: 34125022 PMCID: PMC8203018 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2021.4.51203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Presence of a firearm is associated with increased risk of violence and suicide. United States military veterans are at disproportionate risk of suicide. Routine healthcare provider screening of firearm access may prompt counseling on safe storage and handling of firearms. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency with which Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare providers document firearm access in electronic health record (EHR) clinical notes, and whether this varied by patient characteristics. METHODS The study sample is a post-9-11 cohort of veterans in their first year of VHA care, with at least one outpatient care visit between 2012-2017 (N = 762,953). Demographic data, veteran military service characteristics, and clinical comorbidities were obtained from VHA EHR. We extracted clinical notes for outpatient visits to primary, urgent, or emergency clinics (total 105,316,004). Natural language processing and machine learning (ML) approaches were used to identify documentation of firearm access. A taxonomy of firearm terms was identified and manually annotated with text anchored by these terms, and then trained the ML algorithm. The random-forest algorithm achieved 81.9% accuracy in identifying documentation of firearm access. RESULTS The proportion of patients with EHR-documented access to one or more firearms during their first year of care in the VHA was relatively low and varied by patient characteristics. Men had significantly higher documentation of firearms than women (9.8% vs 7.1%; P < .001) and veterans >50 years old had the lowest (6.5%). Among veterans with any firearm term present, only 24.4% were classified as positive for access to a firearm (24.7% of men and 20.9% of women). CONCLUSION Natural language processing can identify documentation of access to firearms in clinical notes with acceptable accuracy, but there is a need for investigation into facilitators and barriers for providers and veterans to improve a systemwide process of firearm access screening. Screening, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, and age, provides additional opportunities to protect veterans from self-harm and violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia A. Brandt
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - T. Elizabeth Workman
- The George Washington University, Biomedical Informatics Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- VA Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Melissa M. Farmer
- Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kathleen M. Akgün
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Erica A. Abel
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - Bevanne Bean-Mayberry
- Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy (CSHIIP), VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
- UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
| | - Qing Zeng-Treitler
- The George Washington University, Biomedical Informatics Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- VA Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Maryann Mason
- Northwestern University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lori A. Bastian
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joseph L. Goulet
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Lori A. Post
- Northwestern University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Northwestern University, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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Barnett BS, Kudler H, Swanson J. To Prevent Suicide Among Veterans, Their Physicians Should Discuss Gun Safety. JAMA HEALTH FORUM 2020; 1:e201407. [DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2020.1407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brian S. Barnett
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Center for Behavioral Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Harold Kudler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC), Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jeffrey Swanson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC), Durham, North Carolina
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Schmutte TJ, Wilkinson ST. Suicide in Older Adults With and Without Known Mental Illness: Results From the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003-2016. Am J Prev Med 2020; 58:584-590. [PMID: 32001049 PMCID: PMC7089842 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Suicide risk increases with age, and evidence exists for the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of suicide risk in older adults. Recent data suggest that many U.S. adults who die from suicide do not have a known mental health condition. This study compares the characteristics and precipitating circumstances of geriatric suicide decedents with and without known mental illnesses. METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of suicide deaths for adults aged ≥65 years from the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003-2016 (n=26,884). ORs compared sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, cause of death, and precipitating circumstances based on coroner/medical examiner and law enforcement reports. Data were collected and analyzed in 2019. RESULTS Most older male (69.1%) and female (50.2%) suicide decedents did not have a known mental illness. A physical health problem was the most prevalent precipitating circumstance but was more common among older adults without known mental illness. Past suicide attempt, disclosure of suicidal intent, depressed mood, and substance use were more common among those with a known mental illness. More than three fourths of suicide decedents did not disclose their suicidal intent. Most suicide deaths involved firearms, which were disproportionately used by decedents without known mental illness (81.6% of male and 44.6% of female decedents) compared with those with known mental illness (70.5% of male and 30.0% of female decedents). CONCLUSIONS Most older adults who die from suicide do not have a known mental health condition. The rapidly growing U.S. geriatric population calls for more effective methods to identify and treat at-risk older adults, particularly those who are male.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Schmutte
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Samuel T Wilkinson
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Assessment and Management of Psychiatric Symptoms Among Adults With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Concussion 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-65384-8.00005-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Tung GJ, Pierpoint LA, Betz ME, Brooks-Russell A, Brandspigel S, Runyan CW. Gun Retailers' Willingness to Provide Gun Storage for Suicide Prevention. Am J Health Behav 2019; 43:15-22. [PMID: 30522563 PMCID: PMC10979470 DOI: 10.5993/ajhb.43.1.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: We examined factors grounded in the theory of planned behavior that influence gun retailers' willingness to provide temporary, voluntary firearm storage for suicide prevention. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of gun retailers in the US mountain west. Analyses included descriptive statistics and ordered logistic regression. Results: Ninety-five gun retailers responded to the survey (25% response rate) and 67.6% (95% CI: 59.6, 75.6) stated that they would be very or somewhat likely to provide temporary gun storage. Firearm retailers who agreed with the statements: "Our store can be an important part of the effort to improve gun safety in my community" (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.14) and that offering storage provided "The chance to be seen as a positive member of the community" (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.00, 2.22) were more likely to state that they would be willing to provide storage. Conclusions: Firearm retailers are potentially important storage partners for means safety and suicide prevention efforts. Additional research and practice innovations are needed to assess gun retailers' willingness to provide gun storage and partner on suicide prevention efforts in other geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Tung
- Assistant Professor, Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Health Systems, Management & Policy, Aurora, CO;,
| | - Lauren A Pierpoint
- Doctoral Candidate, Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Aurora, CO
| | - Marian E Betz
- Associate Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Ashley Brooks-Russell
- Assistant Professor, Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Aurora, CO
| | - Sara Brandspigel
- Research Instructor, Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Aurora, CO
| | - Carol W Runyan
- Professor, Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Aurora, CO
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