Review of family-based treatments from 2010 to 2019 for suicidal ideation and behavior

Brief relationship support as a selective suicide prevention intervention: Piloting the Relationship Checkup in veteran couples with relationship and mental health concerns

INTRODUCTION

Close relationship problems play a key role in many contemporary theories of suicide. However, the potential of relationship support in suicide prevention is understudied. This study explores the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and promise of utilizing the 3-session Relationship Checkup (RC) in veterans with mental health and romantic relationship concerns.

METHODS

We conducted a single-arm pilot of telehealth RC in veterans with a positive mental health screen and their romantic partners. Couples completed baseline and post-treatment assessments of study outcomes.

RESULTS

Feasibility analyses showed we were able to recruit an elevated-risk sample (30% history of attempts or interrupted attempts), take them through the service (90% treatment completion), and had minimal harm events (no suicidal behavior, no physical harm in arguments). Multimethod acceptability analyses suggested high satisfaction with the program, though some desired more intensive services. Couples reported improvements in relationship functioning, emotional intimacy, thwarted belongingness, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Perceived burdensomeness only improved for identified patients and drinking did not change for either partner.

CONCLUSION

The RC is a feasible, safe, and acceptable strategy for providing relationship support to couples at elevated risk. Although further randomized trials are needed, RC shows promise to reduce relationship-level and individual-level suicide risk factors.

Prevalence and correlates of passive and active suicidal ideation among students entering graduate courses

OBJECTIVE

to identify the prevalence and factors associated with passive and active suicidal ideation throughout life among students entering graduate courses.

METHOD

an analytical and cross-sectional study with a sample comprised of 321 students entering graduate courses. Multiple descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

the multivariate analyses indicated that passive and active suicidal ideation were similarly more prevalent among female students belonging to minority sexual orientations who engaged in daily physical activity ≤ 30 minutes/day and were victims of psychological violence in the past 12 months. Alcohol abuse, family relationships not impaired due to the demands imposed by stricto sensu graduate studies and low self-esteem were only associated with passive suicidal ideation. In turn, recent marijuana use in the last 30 days, poor interpersonal relationships with academic peers, and engagement in professional activities concomitantly with the demands imposed by graduate studies were only associated with active suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSION

high prevalence of lifetime passive and active suicidal ideation was identified among graduate students, and similarities and differences were verified between some associated factors for both outcomes.

Suicide in young people: screening, risk assessment, and intervention

Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among young people worldwide and the third leading cause of death among those in the US. This review outlines the epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior in young people. It discusses intersectionality as an emerging framework to guide research on prevention of suicide in young people and highlights several clinical and community settings that are prime targets for implementation of effective treatment programs and interventions aimed at rapidly reducing the suicide rate in young people. It provides an overview of current approaches to screening and assessment of suicide risk in young people and the commonly used screening tools and assessment measures. It discusses universal, selective, and indicated evidence based suicide focused interventions and highlights components of psychosocial interventions with the strongest evidence for reducing risk. Finally, the review discusses suicide prevention strategies in community settings and considers future research directions and questions challenging the field.

Experiences lived by family members of people who committed suicide: approach to biographic narratives

OBJECTIVE

To understand the experiences of family members of people who committed suicide and describe the typologies of the biographical cases through the approach of biographical interviews and analysis.

METHOD

Qualitative research, with a reconstructive approach to Rosenthal's biographical cases, based on Schutz's phenomenological sociology. Biographical narrative interviews were conducted between November/2017 and February/2018, in a city in southern Brazil, with eleven family members of people who survived suicide. The analysis followed the phases of Rosenthal's biographical case reconstruction.

RESULTS

The reconstruction of two biographical cases were presented. The results point to two distinct typologies: maternal role in the face of suicide and social stigmatization; use of the cultural meaning of family as a resource for coping with suicide.

CONCLUSION

It is important to listen to these family members, as the understanding of their experiences can support health professionals in the implementation of care actions.

Introduction to the special issue on the efficacy and effectiveness of couple and family interventions: Evidence base update 2010-2019

This is the fourth Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (JMFT) special issue on the efficacy and effectiveness of couple and family therapy. Articles in this issue review studies published from 2010 to 2019 on couple and family interventions for prevalent mental and behavioral disorders and health conditions. The final article on mental health disparities tracks progress in the field and emphasizes the need for additional attention. In the current article, we provide a description of our methodological approach for the special issue and an overview of the state of the evidence for couple and family interventions across the conditions reviewed. We also offer recommendations to inspire researchers to further expand the empirical support for couple and family interventions to address pressing public health needs.

Experiências vivenciadas por familiares sobreviventes ao suicídio: abordagem de narrativas biográficas

RESUMO Objetivo: Compreender as experiências vivenciadas por familiares sobreviventes ao suicídio e descrever as tipologias de casos biográficos por meio da abordagem de entrevistas e análise de narrativas biográficas. Método: Pesquisa qualitativa, de abordagem reconstrutiva de casos biográficos de Rosenthal fundamentada na sociologia fenomenológica de Schutz. Foram realizadas entrevistas narrativas entre novembro/2017 e fevereiro/2018, em uma cidade no sul do Brasil, com onze familiares sobreviventes ao suicídio. A análise seguiu as etapas da reconstrução de caso biográfico de Rosenthal. Resultados: Apresenta-se a reconstrução de dois casos biográficos com tipologias distintas: papel materno diante do suicídio e estigmatização social; significação cultural de família como um recurso para o enfrentamento do suicídio. Conclusão: Considera-se relevante ouvir esses familiares, pois a compreensão de suas experiências pode subsidiar os profissionais da área na implementação de ações de cuidado.