Suicide and Coaching Interventions

Suicide and Coaching Interventions

Suicide among young people has become an epidemic not only in this country but also around the world. Recent studies have shown that suicide and coaching intervention programs may reduce the risk of suicide in young people and older adults.

Various programs that have been showing promise include programs in clinical, educational, and community settings as well as Internet programs. In some cases, a number of different interventions when combined may be more beneficial in providing young people the necessary assistance that people need.

ASSIST Suicide Training and Life Coaching

One program that has shown promise is when suicide counselors engage in a combination of ASSIST

Training and Life coaching.

ASSIST (Advanced Suicide Intervention Skills Training) helps coaches identify those at risk of suicidal thoughts and is designed to keep those who are considering suicide alive NOW by helping them find something that patient finds worth living for. While Life Coaching not only helps patients deal with the problems they are confronting, but can actually help patients become more engaged in life providing them with not only the will to live, but the desire to live and become more involved with the process of living.

Internet Programs

There have also been studies that suggest that Internet suicide intervention programs can decrease suicidal ideation for those who take part and complete these online programs. (The program used in the study was the CATCH-IT program.)

The study does indicate that Internet programs can reach more young people and provide low cost help. These programs work best when a coach or a facilitator runs them. While the real benefit is to those youths who complete the program it has been shown that there is minor benefits among those who begin the program, but do not complete it.

However, this study did not cover youths who were showing frequent or severe thoughts of suicide so the results of the study may be artificially positive. The study does state that further more in depth studies need to be done.

Standard Suicide Prevention and Coaching Services

Clinical, educational, and community-based programs are still the standard suicide prevention and coaching services available to youths who are considering suicide. Many of these programs gives young patients one on one and group services to help youths learn coping skills and deal with issues of depression and low self-esteem.

These programs tend to work best when after the programs are completed there is caring follow-up in the form of phone calls or emails.

When young people receive caring follow up phone calls or emails they know that there is someone they can turn to somewhere they can go when they need help.

While all of these programs show promise more studies need to be done in order to have any hope of curbing the tide of youth suicide in this country and around the world.

Identifying the triggers of suicidal thoughts and tendencies in youth can help reach people and provide them with the help they need to help them to live more mentally healthier lives. Learn about getting a support coach now by contacting one of our consultants.