Research shows that the best way to reduce the chance of a person attempting suicide is to have a plan to prevent it and a health care team available to provide support.
As part of a $12 million, 5-year award from the Patient-Centered Care Outcomes Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente researchers and clinicians are testing the most effective methods of reaching patients at risk for suicide and connecting them to a care team in a large health system. The Northern California Region has more than 300,000 Kaiser Permanente patients receiving mental health care for various conditions.
“To have a prevention toolkit that a patient can access at any time, in a moment of need or crisis, is very powerful,” said Honor Hsin, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist who is helping lead the study. “This study enables us to evaluate the impact of solutions as we build them, with the members we serve, enhancing a model of care that is rooted in clinical evidence, lived experience, and shared purpose.”
Safety plans are key
Safety plans are a key part of the Zero Suicide model used by many health systems across the country, including Kaiser Permanente, to support patients at risk for suicide. A safety plan is personalized for each patient. It may include signs and symptoms to be aware of, coping resources, and steps to limit access to lethal means.
Suicide prevention is already embedded in Kaiser Permanente care using advanced, evidence-based techniques, and this project is meant to further refine the evidence around what works.
“We will study whether the best approach is to facilitate more in-the-moment interventions during regular outpatient care, or whether it makes sense to add an additional safety net of specialized providers who step in to help through phone or video interactions,” explained Esti Iturralde, PhD, a research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research who is leading the study. “We want to know which approach helps patients benefit the most from recommended suicide prevention practices.”
Researchers will track rates of safety planning, patient engagement with outpatient care, and reduction in suicide attempts.
Team approach to research
Advisors to the research project include suicide prevention researchers from Henry Ford Health in Michigan, a nationally recognized pioneer of the Zero Suicide framework; and investigators from Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California and Washington regions and from the HealthPartners health care system in Minnesota. The study team will also collaborate with the Now Matters Now suicide prevention organization.
“The project is the natural next step in ensuring mental health care is both caring and evidence-based,” said Maria T. Koshy, MD, director of regional mental health administration.
“Suicide is a major public health concern whose impact on our communities is beyond measurement,” Dr. Koshy said. “We need to know the most effective ways to identify those at risk and provide evidence-based interventions that work. This kind of research is the best way to do that, and we are proud of the confidence the funder has placed in our teams to answer this question.”
Accessing mental health care at Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is making mental health and addiction medicine services easier than ever to access. In an effort to provide one clear access point for members to get the care they need, we recently launched a single phone number for all mental health and addiction medicine needs.
Members can call 1-888-WE-R-KP4U to arrange to see a therapist, cancel or reschedule existing mental health appointments, or leave a message for a clinician.
